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How to Take Care Of Your Labrador's Feet & Paws
from: The Complete DogA Labrador retriever's feet are susceptible to a number injuries if it spends a lot of time outdoors. The pads of his feet should be inspected after every vigorous run in thick brush for cuts, splinters, burrs, or embedded stones. For minor problems, cleaning using sterilized tweezers to remove any objects is advised and a mild antiseptic should be all that is needed. Your dog shouldn't be permitted any hard running until any cut has healed. Undiscovered minor irritations can quickly become infected and painful, causing the dog to favor the leg and limp.
A dog that develops a sudden limp may have been stung by an insect. In such a case, an ice compress will usually reduce or prevent swelling and the pain should quickly pass. (Be alert to any difficulty in breathing, as an allergic reaction to stings may also produce dangerous side effects.) If there's no evidence of a cut and the dog continues to favor the leg, consult a vet because there may be an injury to the bones or muscles of the foot, or something may be embedded within the footpad that will need an experienced hand to remove.
Since many adult dogs dislike having their feet touched or inspected, you can make this a daily routine while the dog is young. Dogs who get lots of exercise outside the house will seldom need to have their nails trimmed, as moving about on rough surfaces should be enough to keep the nails quite short. Dogs who are more sedentary will need their nails attended to regularly. If allowed to continue growing, the nails will impede the normal placement of the foot and affect the dog's gait.
Specially designed nail clippers for medium-sized dogs such as Labrador retrievers can be purchased at most pet stores or grooming parlors. The process is quick and painless, if done properly. If you're inexperienced, have your vet show you this simple procedure at the dog's regular checkup. Trimming can then be done at home. Make sure you cut only the outer shell of the nail, as cutting too close to the quick will cause bleeding. Once the nail is the proper length, smooth the surface with a few touches of an emery board. Should bleeding occur from the cutting, apply pressure to the area by holding a cotton swab over the nail. Once the bleeding stops, dab the nail with a mild antiseptic.
During the winter, if you live in the colder areas, check your dog's feet after it walks on snow-covered or shoveled sidewalks. The chemicals commonly applied to melt snow on walkways and roads can be caustic to your dog's skin and feet and must be removed quickly by a thorough washing with warm, soapy water.
Follow this by applying a generous amount of petroleum jelly to the footpads to soothe any discomfort. If the use of such snow-melting chemicals is common in your area, ask your veterinarian to recommend a cream you can apply to protect the footpads before damage occurs. If salt is allowed to remain, the pads can be chemically burned. In response to the pain the dog may try to wash the chemicals off by licking, which complicates the problem further. If ingested in large enough doses, such materials can injure the digestive tract and other organs.
The same applies to any antifreeze that may leak onto the streets. Not only is this liquid deadly, but it also actually attracts dogs by its pleasant smell and taste. Beware of letting your dog walk on or lick any liquids in the streets.
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