hmbmarohl Posted July 10, 2011 Report Share Posted July 10, 2011 We take Sam to play/run at several different places. One is our friend's yard (he has a beagle and they love to play together), Sam runs and runs and runs....until he rips his pads and then he is limping and licking for the next few days. any suggestions on what i can put on his feet (given he does not like his feet messed with at all) before hand to prevent the damage? shoes? gel/lotion? thanks for any help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliepoudrier Posted July 10, 2011 Report Share Posted July 10, 2011 Tuf-foot works well. You have to apply it religiously and it can be messy but people say it works. There's another similar product out there, I think, but I think Tuf-foot is the one most people have recommended here. J. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chesney's Girl Posted July 10, 2011 Report Share Posted July 10, 2011 Chesney used to have really soft feet. I did some reading on a sled dog forum and started supplementing him with zinc. It's just the zinc you get from a health food store or pharmacy. I started off by giving him a pill every night with his dinner for a week or so, then cut back to 3-4 times a week then down to 2-3. Now I give him a pill when I remember (usually once of twice a week). Now if he gets a little gimpy after running on ground that used to make his feet bleed, I see no signs of torn pads or very minor blisters (start of torn pads) that heal much faster then they used to. I wanted to add that I give it to him with or after his dinner since zinc can upset the stomach (at least it upsets my stomach) when it's empty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthfieldNick Posted July 10, 2011 Report Share Posted July 10, 2011 Danielle, do you know the dose of the zinc? My Nick gets torn pads often when we move sheep down the road. Doesn't seem to bother him much, but it's still not good. He'll eat anything, though, so if giving him some zinc could help, I'll try it. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Moon Posted July 11, 2011 Report Share Posted July 11, 2011 Danielle, do you know the dose of the zinc? My Nick gets torn pads often when we move sheep down the road. Doesn't seem to bother him much, but it's still not good. He'll eat anything, though, so if giving him some zinc could help, I'll try it. Thanks. Cerb hasn't torn a pad since I started applying "Musher's Secret". er...knock on wood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smalahundur Posted July 11, 2011 Report Share Posted July 11, 2011 As for supplements, have you considered biotine? It is a long term thing, but it might help. We have seen good results with a border collie from a farmer here that had lousy pads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smalahundur Posted July 11, 2011 Report Share Posted July 11, 2011 Happened again, twitchy mouse finger I guess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebecca, Irena Farm Posted July 11, 2011 Report Share Posted July 11, 2011 Oysters. Canned. Cut them up in little pieces, lay in a lightly greased plate and freeze. Then bag them up and put back in the freezer. Give one to three treats a day. These have a safe form of zinc that is hard to overdose. The pills provide massive amounts of zinc, which binds to copper (um, I think?) and can create other problems. Vitamin B-50 complex, crushed, mixed with sardines, salmon, or Jack mackerel. Make sure the nails are very short. Walk daily with a weighted pack to spread the pads (build up the weight gradually and no more than 10% body weight). Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthfieldNick Posted July 11, 2011 Report Share Posted July 11, 2011 Nothing from the ocean for my Nick! Causes nearly instant explosions from both ends... I have a tub of Musher's around from when I lived in Maine. I'll try that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carson Crazies Posted July 11, 2011 Report Share Posted July 11, 2011 Ben, I use Tuf-Foot, and then if the ground is going to be scorching hot I also will hit them with Musher's Secret (good stuff, and it smells nice too). I've finally figured out that their feet get burned sometimes instead of torn. I also try to keep them from hopping in and out of water if they don't need to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chesney's Girl Posted July 11, 2011 Report Share Posted July 11, 2011 Nick. I just give Chesney one pill they come in 50mg pills. As far as causing other effects, I haven't noticed anything. But like I said, the loading dose I did was only for one week, then I cut back and cut back until now I give him it when I remember. Zinc helps the immune system as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hmbmarohl Posted August 6, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2011 great tips. my husband has a ton of can oysters that hes never going to eat, i just informed him im going to feed them to sam haha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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