paw cracks!

[dogsarebetter]

Ruckus always has pad cracks! sometimes they are so bad that the even bleed and I have to wrap them up and keep his inactive for a while for them to heal. I have taken him to TWO vets and neither of them have done us much good. one of them said "looks like he cut his foot" BULL! I am 98% sure that he did not cut it. I watched it from the time it was a little crack to the time it was so deep it was bleeding. I put neosporn on it and wraped it. It never healed all of the way. Ruckus always gets cracks all over his back paws! The other vet looked him over and gave us some cream to use nightly. Well, they almost healed up. They are very shallow cracks now, but will not heal up completely. Actually they are getting worse, and new ones are coming up.

Any ideas on what to do to help his paws out. its only on his back ones.
Or should I try and find another vet. My normal vet is really the best one I know of. She just recommends the cream. I wonder why anyone hasn't checked to see if it could be fungal!

 

[ChiquitaBanana]

You could try Vaseline on his paws. That should work. I would use it every day twice a day. Just before you go to bed and you dog does I would put it on since he won’t be walking and rubbing it off.

You could try another vet for a second opinion. If you are not satisfied with his treatment.

 

[colliewog]

Could be an allergy or a fungus. Maybe further tests are warranted? I had a Pit Bull who had this problem and it was finally determined she had a long standing fungal infection, plus an allergy to grass. With medication for the fungus and washing her feet every time she came in from the grass, it healed pretty well. It did recur periodically because of her allergy, but not as bad once we got the infection under control.

 

[Zoom]

I've had many clients use this with great results: http://www.happytailsspa.com/bowWOW-Butter-Balm

 

[Romy]

Bag balm is wonderful for dryness and cracking, and it's also anti bacterial so will help prevent infection from setting in. We use it on Striders pads to keep them in good shape. You could try that and see if it helps make him more comfortable while figuring out the cause.

If it is fungal, what may really help is soaking his back feet in apple cider vinegar for 20 minutes a couple of times a day. If he won't hold still that long you can try dabbing tea tree oil on the spots with a q tip and then sealing it in with vaseline or bag balm. I've used both methods to successfully treat fungal skin infections in chinchillas, dogs, and myself.

At any rate, your idea of getting a second opinion is a good one. This is something that the root cause needs to be found and dealt with.

 

[corgipower]

I would definitely insist on having them check for an infection or fungus.

If it isn't anything else, for ointment to put on it, I really like Corona ointment (the top one on the page). It's marketed for horses, but IIRC the label says it can be used on dogs.

 

[4dogs3cats]

Also, right off the shelf at usually any drugstore you can find udder cream.

They put it on cows udders when they get all dry and cracked. It works sooo good on dry skin like elbows and heels and stuff, I started using it on my dogs paws during the winter. It softens them RIGHT up!

 

[Beanie]

Grass allergy in shelties isn't terribly uncommon, so it definitely could be that - though I don't think I've ever seen it causing a dogs paw pads to actually crack open. Usually it just makes their paws TERRIBLY itchy and then they chew on them, but I think if he were chewing them enough to crack them open you would have definitely noticed. So maybe not... hmm.

I'd call around and ask if somebody can do a fungal test or look for allergies, or just call your current vet and ask if they will do one - say it's because you are really concerned and would like to explore a few other options instead of just "waiting to see" any longer..?

 

[dogsarebetter]

Thanks SOOOOOOO much!
Actually Ruckus IS allergic to grass, so maybe that is why his feet have issues!
And I have used bag balm, it just doesnt work for him it helps though.
Ruckus does not chew on his back feet (the cracked ones) but he does his front feet, and they actually look just fine!

I will try some of the other products mentioned and if it doesnt work we will go to the next town over to see another vet!