I brought my dog inside today and discovered she had cut her paw. It’s a slice about 1’’ across and ½ deep and doesn’t appear to serious. I stopped the bleeding with some styptic powder. She seems OK.
Should I take her to the vet? Is there anything I need to be concerned about? The vet charges me about $75 to say HI, so I was wondering if what was your guys’opinion?

 Quote: Mike Quill

I brought my dog inside today and discovered she had cut her paw. It’s a slice about 1’’ across and ½ deep and doesn’t appear to serious. I stopped the bleeding with some styptic powder. She seems OK.
Should I take her to the vet? Is there anything I need to be concerned about? The vet charges me about $75 to say HI, so I was wondering if what was your guys’opinion?

That depends, I think, on how clean it can be kept. You mean the pad, right?

I would watch it for inflammation (and infection), making sure there is no reddening of the tissue around it and keeping a triple antibacterial ointment on it. If possible, I think I would tie gauze around it, applying the ointment to the gauze where it touches the pad, on walks, to keep dirt out. (I know that the dog is likely to chew off and maybe eat such a thing when alone, but on a walk, you can keep that from happening.)

If the dog is persistent about licking the ointment, there are ointments for dogs like Petnap Ultrasalve (otc).

I'd be very careful not to put anything tourniquet-tight, and I'd consider a booty if the pad won't stay on when you're walking.

ALL JMO!

It's been my experience that dogs handle minor cuts to their pads pretty well on their own.

If you think the cut is bad enough to treat and dress then Connie's advice is excellent and I usually do leave the dressing off while in the house and basically just protect the open wound while on walks.

What I would strongly suggest is taking a good gander at it now while it's fresh, so you would be able to notice if it was getting worse (the inflammation that Connie mentioned).

If it does get nasty then a trip to the vet's is warrented, but again, it's generally not a big deal. Do you know what it was cut on?

A cut 1" across and a 1/2" deep is pretty deep, i'd be taking the dog to the vet, the dogs pads are really important,
AL

Yes, Al is right about how important they are.

I took out a ruler to look at 1/2". That IS pretty deep.

Tough call, but at a minimum I would keep a very good eye on it tonight and tomorrow, and get the triple anitbiotic on it.

After you get all that done, go inspect your yard for sharp objects

I missed the part about the 1/2" deep part...I just caught the 1" and the "doesn't look serious" part. My concern with a wound that deep is that some debris might still be inside the cut.

It certainly bears watching, but at $75 a pop to the vet, I can see why you'd want to home treat! I think within the next day you'll be able to tell if you need to go or not.

Good luck.

I had the same thing happen to my male a few months back...on his front left pad, about 1cm deep. He actually did it jumping up on a tin fence to say g'day to the next door neighbours. Didnt actually notice it till the next day when he was limping.

I got the anticeptic spray onto it straight away and made sure the wound was clean just by squirting saline solution into it.

Then i used a spray called pad aid, not sure were you are located and if you can get it there, its a spray specifically made for cuts and abrazions on pads, although it does make them soft.

I restricted his area of play to just grassy areas and no walks or runs and this would agrivate the cut.

After the wound had heal somewhat i started using metholated spirits. Just by damping a cloth of cotton ball and running it on the pad as this help to harden it up again.

Sorry, bak to your problem. I would restrict your dog to soft areas for his feet. Make sure you give it a spray with some anticeptic spray and least 4 or 5 times a day, and if its wet and your worried about it, try using some vasoline to keep moisture out. AND NO RUNNING
I dont see the point in getting stitches in dog paws unless absolutely positively nessecary, they will only try and rip them out and do more damage in the process.

Pads are important, but most of the time issues like this can be treated at home if you know how and your confident enough.

Goodluck

I'm sorry, after I read some responses I looked at a ruler and 1/2"" might be a little more than it really was. I don’t think it was quite that deep, sounded right but I haven't looked at a ruler in a while. I'm at work but my wife says she seems fine, not even bothering her. I check it out more closely when I get home and let everyone know.
Thanks for the advice.

Just reduce her activities for a week or so, and dont allow her to run or walk on hard surfaces. She will be fine but do be sure to make sure it doesnt get infected.