Tips for proper paw and skin care for dogs
Have you noticed your dog licking his paws or even chewing on his claws? Then it's high time to address the topic of paw care. While this may sound like a purely cosmetic treatment, it can quickly lead to health problems. Regular paw care effectively counteracts joint misalignment and prevents serious inflammation.
Learn more about paw care for dogs and what you need to keep in mind in today's blog post.
Healthy paws – why you don’t just have to cut claws
If your dog holds his paws slightly at an angle or makes loud noises when walking on hard surfaces, it's time to trim his claws and groom his paws. Claws that are too long or hairy on his paws increase the overall risk of injury from slipping or tripping.
Claws that are pushed upward or even touching the ground need to be trimmed. If your dog regularly licks or even nibbles his paws, this could be the first sign of a lack of proper paw care. If your dog frequently slips or appears reluctant to run or walk, it's time for paw care. Some dogs have hair between their pads, which can hinder their walking.
A dog's pedicure involves not only cutting and filing claws, but also trimming the hair and cleaning the spaces between the pads.
Diseases caused by neglected paws in dogs
It's not just overly long claws that can cause pain for your dog. A raised claw bed leads to painful pressure on the pads. To avoid this pain, dogs often try to place their paws sideways—which increases the risk of permanent misalignment, muscle tension, and joint damage.
If your pet walks only on the tips of its claws, the pads aren't being used properly. These ideally serve as an ABS braking system and provide cushioning. This regularly puts the claws at risk of breaking, tearing, or becoming deeply torn.
Hair between the pads often becomes matted, providing an ideal breeding ground for parasites such as mites and bacteria. Small, sharp-edged stones can become trapped in them, promoting inflammation and infection.
The ideal paw care for dogs
For ideal paw care for your dog, you will need nail clippers or a nail trimmer, depending on their size, grooming scissors, and a nail file. Ideally, you also have a flashlight, headlamp, or other strong light source. Our emmi®-pet grooming set and special paw balm will help you with regular paw care.
Minimize the germ load between the paw pads by regularly cleaning them with our emmi®-pet grooming set. Regularly checking and caring for paws is a good idea, both in summer and winter. After every walk, you should check your dog's paws for any injuries and check the length of their claws, ideally while standing. Remove any annoying dirt from their paws so your dog no longer has a reason to lick or nibble on them.
