Dogs that blow pads

There are some dogs out there that blow pads easier than others.  It’s genetic and / OR could be because the dog lives indoors on soft carpet or outdoors on smooth concrete and grass.

The number one tip I give folks is for you to buy some Tuf-foot.  That stuff will harden your dogs paws like a rock.  I ain’t kiddin’!

Just use it as described ….    ….on the label and your dogs pad problems will go away.  It is also a quick fix for an already blown pad.  What I like about it on a blown pad is that not only does the pad heal but it toughens as it heals.  You get kind of a 2 for 1 bonus.

Boots?  Nah.  I don’t use them much any more.  If the area is really bad with grass burrs I generally don’t hunt it.  If it is a place with a lot of sharp edged rock, I prepare by using tuf-foot in advance of the hunt.  Sure, there are places out there where boots are a must but in the central plains from the Dakota’s down to South Texas, I haven’t found very many.

Some dogs are just tough.  They can hunt through a bed of thorns while others will curl up and cry with just one prick of a cactus.  Some dogs are so bird crazy that you would have no way of knowing if they are having pad problems which is why WE must do our job and watch those feet!

On the subject of feet, keep the nails clipped so there aren’t any painful broken nails in the field.  If a broken nail does happen in the field I usually do the following:  first, I clip the broken nail at the break for a clean edge.  That hurts so I quickly use  medistyp which has benzocaine in it for local anesthesia.  It’s available over the counter at most pet stores.  There is a little handy applicator you can use with this stuff so that you can apply pressure while applying it to stop the bleeding.

If the nail bleeding doesn’t stop, I carry a prescription item that my Vet has me carry.  It is a silver nitrate applicator.  Looks like a long fireplace match with a silver tip on it.  It is a chemical cauterizer that stops the bleeding of small vessels.  Not for big stuff.  It does hurt for a few seconds when doing this but if the nail is out of control, it will do the job.

Now my little disclaimer:  I’m not a doctor and don’t profess to be.  Get your licensed Vets advice on everything and don’t take mine.  I am not responsible if you do.

That’s it for today.  Happy hunting.

Dave