Freeman 101 Posted September 19, 2009 Report Share Posted September 19, 2009 Freeman is scraping off the skin from his paw pads in agility training. The flooring where we train has matting with a rough surface. I'm not seeing any other dogs that have issues with this, so I'm not sure that it's the surfacing but rather my dog's running style. Has anyone else had problems with this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gil Posted September 19, 2009 Report Share Posted September 19, 2009 Freeman is scraping off the skin from his paw pads in agility training. The flooring where we train has matting with a rough surface. I'm not seeing any other dogs that have issues with this, so I'm not sure that it's the surfacing but rather my dog's running style.Has anyone else had problems with this? Had it a few times. Usually with flyball or freeplay. It happens more often if their feet are wet. Is he doing a lot of sliding? Is this the only place it happens? Jenny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freeman 101 Posted September 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2009 I think he is doing a lot of sliding. I didn't notice that he did this in agility until I watched a friend run him last night. Part of this may be a handler issue, being that the handler needs to give faster pre-signals for directional changes so the little border collie doesn't have to put on the brakes and make lightning speed turns, but i'm a work in progress. Oh, you mentioned something I had never thought about-his feet being wet. I usually practice with friends, and while friends are running their dogs I put Freeman in his crate. When I take him out for his turn his paws are covered in saliva! I'm going to pay more attention to keeping his feet dry and see if this makes a difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted September 19, 2009 Report Share Posted September 19, 2009 what condition are his pads in? If they're soft and tender to begin with, lots of wear and tear on any surface could cause damage. Both of my dogs run on trails and rocks a lot, and they're pads are like leather. Nothing wears them down. I know other dogs that run mostly on grass or other plush surfaces, and even an occasional slide across concrete or gravel will tear their pads. If might just be softer pads than some of the other dogs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gil Posted September 19, 2009 Report Share Posted September 19, 2009 I think he is doing a lot of sliding. I didn't notice that he did this in agility until I watched a friend run him last night. Being wet softens the leather on the pads, just like it does the soles of your feet. Add that to the sliding and you probably have your cause. Hopefully keeping them dry will help and they will get used to the surface and toughen up. Jenny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agilityrunningdogs Posted September 20, 2009 Report Share Posted September 20, 2009 Mal will rip his pads up if we do too many teeters (he has a sliding one), but I put Musher's Secret on them if I know we're doing teeter work and it adds an extra layer of protection. You can get it at Petsmart for fairly cheap and it lasts quite a while. It may also increase his traction - I use it on the Schnauzers when we trial indoors and it seems to help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freeman 101 Posted September 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2009 what condition are his pads in? If they're soft and tender to begin with, lots of wear and tear on any surface could cause damage. Both of my dogs run on trails and rocks a lot, and they're pads are like leather. Nothing wears them down. I know other dogs that run mostly on grass or other plush surfaces, and even an occasional slide across concrete or gravel will tear their pads. If might just be softer pads than some of the other dogs. I'm no sure. Most of his exercise is on grass, dirt, sidewalks, or treadmill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freeman 101 Posted September 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2009 Mal will rip his pads up if we do too many teeters (he has a sliding one), but I put Musher's Secret on them if I know we're doing teeter work and it adds an extra layer of protection. You can get it at Petsmart for fairly cheap and it lasts quite a while. It may also increase his traction - I use it on the Schnauzers when we trial indoors and it seems to help. The vet told me to not put any ointment on his pads since we want the pads to toughen not soften. But from your description this adds a layer of protection, right? I'll check it out. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ann and Taz Posted September 27, 2009 Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 Taz was doing this every week at herding. He ended up having to herd in boots because he ripped his pads off every week! He's very quick, and was turning too quickly on the rough surface. I haven't had that issue on indoor matting for agility so far, so I'm hoping his feet are toughening up over time. I hope your dog will too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Good Shepherd Posted October 7, 2009 Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 My Kati also ripped her paws very very bad last time we attended a herding clininc She also now herds in Booties Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nancy in AZ Posted October 7, 2009 Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 I'd love to get a recommendation on good booties that will stay on. Boo is constantly licking at his paws and creating sores. The vet sedated him and got two small stickers or seed heads, but couldn't find anything in the rear paw, where he is constantly licking. He's on hydroxyzine but he's still going at it, even after I wipe his paws with baby wipes. I'm at my wit's end. I duck taped a sock onto his rear leg and that held for days, but on the front paws he manages to get the sock off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Good Shepherd Posted October 7, 2009 Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 Hi Nancy, let me see if I can find the webpage where I got my booties from!!!! PM me if you like!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaska Posted October 8, 2009 Report Share Posted October 8, 2009 Nancy - I've had really good success with the "Ruff Tuff bandage covers" sold here. They won't cover the paw pad, but they would cover the duct tape holding the sock on (I'm assuming that Boo is chewing off the duct tape, rather than just eating through the sock itself). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nancy in AZ Posted October 8, 2009 Report Share Posted October 8, 2009 Actually, he doesn't chew the duct tape, but manages to get the sock slipped off the front paw somehow. He did keep the back paw covered for days with the sock/duct tape set-up. Maybe it has to do with the angulation of the limbs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soda-pop Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 i LOVE the product Tuf-Foot. I'm always pimping it out every time someone has paw pad issues but it really stopped LT's pads from getting shredded. When she was pretend-sheepdog she shredded 3 out of her 4 pads and kept injuring them on a rotating basis. I started using this and VOILA! no more shredded pads. She doesn't do anything anymore but it really really worked for us. I know someone with a malanois that had the same problem and she used Tuf-Foot with great success. http://www.tuffoot.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silhouettestable Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 I'd love to get a recommendation on good booties that will stay on. Boo is constantly licking at his paws and creating sores. The vet sedated him and got two small stickers or seed heads, but couldn't find anything in the rear paw, where he is constantly licking. He's on hydroxyzine but he's still going at it, even after I wipe his paws with baby wipes. I'm at my wit's end. I duck taped a sock onto his rear leg and that held for days, but on the front paws he manages to get the sock off. You can find lots of suppliers of booties if you go to Sled Dog Central and check out the equipment link, or some of the banner ads on the site. Most mushers will use booties at some point and they need ones that stay on while running. You could either browse the various suppliers sites to see what is available, or go onto SDC Talk and ask which types they recommend. The other thing many mushers do to toughen up the feet is feed a zinc supplement, usually either a powder that's added to the feed (something like Zin-Pro), or in tablet form from the drug store (I've heard it recommended to feed the zinc gluconate tablets, not the chelated zinc). There are tons of discussions on feet, foot care and foot injuries if you do a search on that forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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