When I got home from our walk last night, I noticed something wass off in Luca's gait. I had him lay down to check it out, and found that he had two abrasions--one on each of the largest pads on the back feet. Each sore is smaller than a dime, but they were deep enough that it bled a little.

I washed them off with hydrogen peroxide and put some antibacterial ointment on them. This morning, I coated the two spots with some "liquid bandage" stuff (it's like clear nail polish made for covering wounds.)

It clearly causes him some pain, so I'm going to let him take it easy for several days--no walks or agility.

Anything else? Should I be putting something else on it?

My best guess is that the day before he walked on hot blacktop (it has been crazy hot here) which might have caused a burn/blister. Then our walk the next day on concrete sidewalk took the surface of the blister off. That's what it looks like--if you had a blister, and the top were peeled off.

Do any of you use those pad protection products (Musher's Secret is one)--or is this just a freak thing and not a big deal?

Does the clear stuff allow for penetration of anything else?

Can you link us to a photo?

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/luca-stl/45fc8d5d.jpg

Here's a shot of one pad--the lesion on the other one is identical--basically a 1cm round abrasion through the top layers of pad, exposing some tender, weepy tissue below. It bled a little, but not much.

The clear liquid bandage is waterproof. I put it on to keep the sore clean. My interest in the pad products was mostly for after this heals, to prevent future wear. We do a lot of walking on concrete.

I have used this with success -

http://www.dogsportgear.com/Tuf-Foot--Dog-paw-and-pad-care-Protect-your-dogs-feet_p_170.html

My 18 month old Shepherd does not like to share her ball with the other dogs, so she will pretty much put her life at risk ( :O ) to make sure she is the first to get there during our group chuck-it sessions LOL. In doing so she has torn her pads a few times. I have been using this about once a week for a few months and she hasn't ripped one since.

Thanks! I just orderd a bottle. I'll add it to the first-aid/grooming kit.