Bloody paws

[Scooby]

I live in ottawa and it's been snowing a little. The last few days it cooled down and now there is sort of a icy crust on top of the snow. I took my 7month old boxer out for a walk (of the leash) and he loves it, he runs like crazy (I mean he just discovered the white stuff). But when I came home I notice his paws are bleeding. Mainly around the nails. I though maybe because it is his first time in the snow and it will stop. I was thinking it's like the first time you floss, your gums bleed but eventually they heal and no more blood. But I took him out again today and this time it was really bad. I can't take him out anymore?!?!? (Just to make things a little clear) He runs on a big golf course so the snow/ice is fresh and unbroken. If I walk him by the road there are no problems what so ever. My questions is, should I worry about this bleeding? Do I need to get him some shoes or will his paws get us to it? Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

[Rushing]

Hey Scooby

I live in Minnesota and that same thing happened to my boy Gibson last year and it took awhile for his paws to heal. It happend the one time my G-friend took him out for a walk without his booties.
I suggest getting some booties for your boy. It with save both of you the trouble of having to deal with bloody paws.

Good Luck

 

[Scooby]

ok then of I go get his some nice boots. I'm just a little surpised that an animals paws could be so sensitve. Shouldn't he adapt? I mean this is kindof an odd injury.
Thanks for the advice

 

[Mandy1155]

My doberman's paws do this. He is 5.5 years old and ever since we came to Colorado 2.5 years ago it has happened. It is mainly when we take long hikes. His nails never need to be clipped because he digs a lot too when we are out. We thought they would toughen up and stop bleeding, but they still haven't. Some days he is tender after and licks them and others he doesn't seem to notice.

 

[vgunjak]

Hi, just 2 days ago I post the same question.I live in Ottawa too,and we have the same problem.I took my dog last weekend probably to the same place(brus pit).She was digging and running
on hard snow too,I guess it`s the best to keep her toenails short
or to have booths when we go out where she can run off leash.Where do you take your dog out?

 

[Scooby]

To be more specific, I live in Kanata, 15 min from ottawa, right by the 18th whole of the kanata golf club. My dog is only 7 months old and still follows me around like if he was 3-4months old. He runs around but always comes back to me when he sees that I've taken distance from him. I run him on the golf couse since there are very few people thare and the room is just great. He run up, down, left, right, sometimes I think he's gone crazy, but his energy always dies down and he get a little calmer, but still runs everywhere he goes :D
About the paw, it wasnt the nails them selves, it was around the nails and sometimes further up the paw. my guess now is that the ice was too sharp for his puppy skin. I got him some snowboots for Christmas and so far it's been great. It's a little harder for him to run, but he still has his joy when left free. I hope he realises that now he can run till his hearts content and know that his paw wont fall apart on him :p
anyhow good luck with yours, I know I was worried big time when my boxers paw were bleeding.

 

[Scooby]

I forgot to mention something. I went to a local pet shop and they told me that his nails might be craked on the inside. I don't really know what would look like or how that could happen, but maybe it's something you might consider if he's bleeding somewhere other than around his nails. Maybe someone on this form would know how to deal with that.

Best of luck

 

[Donna741]

You could try using Soft Paws. They are silicon nail covers that you glue right over the entire nail. It will protect the quick from the cold and snow and will help keep it intact until the nail can grow out a bit. You can get them at http://www.softpaws.com

 

[Monica156]

Hi, I've noticed this too, but it was blood on the snow and I don't know who it was from, Jingo or Milo. I'm suspecting Milo because his nails are longer and his skin is still tender from healing from mange. However Jingo runs around like a maniac in the snow so... :confused:

I'm not sure that its a response to long nails or just reaction to the cold, after all the skin on my hands gets nasty in the winter weather (chaffed/cracked/sore/red/irritated/etc.) so isn't possible that the dogs feet get hurt just from the cold temps and ice?

 

[kassa]

I've gone through two pairs of duck boots that
have been sliced open by the sharp crust on top
of snow. It's not a matter of the paws "toughening
up" -- that stuff is razor sharp.

Usually you see the cuts more at the beginning of
the season -- I don't know whether the pads toughen
up, the dogs get more wary about charging through
when there's an ice crust, or the temps just get
more consistently cold so that there's no melting and
ice formation on top.