My Mal has reopened her paw pad on a rock, stick or something yesterday Sheep herding. She had hurt it originally doing a quick turn on rubber matting at the Training Hall chasing a ball that one of the kids threw. That was a few weeks ago now. When that happened I gave her a lot of downtime and kept the pad clean and she was back up to full speed in about 3-5 days or so it seemed. Obviously it needed more than that.

Right now I'm giving her a lot of crate time to keep her quiet. But obviously it is kinda hard for me to gauge her healing as she has so much drive to go, go and go. I know after the 3 days or so she again will be driven to run like a maniac.

I used to work/volunteer with a small ecotourism company up in the Bush in Quebec that did Dog Sled tours and they had these flexible rubber dog boots for the longer bush runs when there wasn't a lot of snow cover to protect the dogs paws from unseen trail hazards. But I just don't remember where they were purchased or even what brand name they were.

Would something like that help her keep her paws intact while still letting her train especially the more strenuous stuff like the bite work, tracking and sheep herding?

I've done web searchs and all I find are those thin nylon booties that I think don't offer enough protection, or ones that are fashion statements for pets.

I often wonder how other working dogs fare when they are working hours in the concrete jungle that must be murder on their paws. I'm sure someone else has come up with solutions?

Hi Geoff,

Afraid I can't advise you on care for that injured pad (hope she gets better soon though! ) but I have a pair of pretty durable booties for my dog and they offer a lot more protection from the ground than the thin nylon ones you mentioned - the rubber tread on the sole is SERIOUS:

Ruff Wear Grip Trex
http://www.ruffwear.com/grip_trex_dog_boots?sc=2&category=11

We got ours for the slushy, sidewalk ice/salt of winter in the city, but they are obvioulsy multi-purpose and might do the trick for you.

~Natalya

Kacie, just have to say I love that signature pic. Did you pose them or did they just end up like that during a rest?
Sorry for the hijack.

How well do the Ruff Wear Boots stay on? Especially doing Mountain biking etc? They look interesting.

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I often wonder how other working dogs fare when they are working hours in the concrete jungle that must be murder on their paws. I'm sure someone else has come up with solutions?

Geoff,

I can really sympathise with paw injuries, and trying to keep a dog quiet. Seems to me it takes at least four times as long as I would like for paws to be bomber after a major injury, especially if they are right on the bottom of the pad. If it is the dew claw pad, it can heal much quicker as they are not weight bearing on it. I once had my dog put under anasthetic (he had a reaction to drug) for stitches for a major pad slice, only to have the stitches pull out the next day

I have also cut my dog with my skis a few times in the winter too. I have tried various booties and have found nothing that works for us in the winter. (snow jams in the tops causing discomfort to the dog, and the boot going wonky). I wind up using vet wrap secured with electrical tape, sometimes with a baggie or rubber glove between the guaze and vet wrap for some waterproofing. Change often. This is what it looks like vet wraped, without the elecrical tape:
http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2273545070093927964hmFYOo

Glad people posted the about that brand they have had success with. I might try them. I have spend some coin on booties already that were no good so I am wary. I have had some success cutting the bottoms off some booties and using them as gaiters to protect a cut a little higher up the leg than the paw. You can see it in this pic:
http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2635093810093927964dTuYFP
I have thought about gatering all his legs as a preventative when skiing, but have not chosen to do that yet.


We just got a staple gun, haven't tried it yet, but my experience is that if the cut is actually on the spongy pad, stitches and staples won't really hold. I have heard really great things about EMT gel to speed healing of cuts/tears but have not had a chance to try it yet. If it is bad, keeping it clean and dry is paramount to prevent infection.

Good luck keeping her quiet Maybe lots of brain type training for the next bit and some long leash walks? No fun for a Mal I know

Hope the booties suggested work out for you...if they do I just might buy some myself!

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when my dogs mountain bike with me, they wear boots by "ruff wear". they are awesome! they have tread on the bottom that prevent holes from forming in the boots and give added traction

Kacie,

Wondering about something. Why do you have to put booties on the dogs mountain biking? I have never considered booties for that activity. Have you gotten a lot of paw injuries? If so what kinds?

I also love the signature picture!

My dogs jog 4 miles with me almost every day. Here in Florida the asphalt gets real hot in the summer time, especially when we can only get the jog in during the hot afternoon.

A couple of years ago I saw some boots in PetsMart. 4 boots for $20. Nylon upper with a thin rubber bottom with dimples. A velcro strap secures the bootie. These are no where near the quality of the ones recommended to you above, but after 2+ years I'm still using them. Anytime I put my hand on the asphalt and can't keep it there for more than a few seconds, the dogs get the boots put on.

They feel awkward to the dog, as they walk like a cat with duck tape on its feet. Once they start jogging there is no difference, as the pace takes over. I do have to be sure to strap them on tight so they do not twist and come off while jogging.

For walking on hot asphalt I like boots from a company called "Cool Paws". The have crystals iside the soles that swell into a gel when you soak them in cool water. They stay cool for a really long time so your dog's feet stay cool. I bought mine locally years ago but I've seen them online too. They've lasted forever, but I've only ever used boots on hot roads so I don't know how they'd do in other conditions. They seem pretty tough though. I have another that I bought singly (Trixie Heimtierbedarf, Hunde-schutzstiefel)that laces up and fits snugly to protect injured or bandaged paws. It's worked great for healing pads and stays on really well.