Paw care: A guide to keeping your dog's paws perfectly clean

Many owners do not pay enough attention to their dogs' paws, although these play a fundamental role in their four-legged friend's life. After all, the paws form the basis on which your dog stands and moves. Have you checked your dog's paws today?

The importance of a dog's paws goes far beyond mere movement. They act as shock absorbers and provide traction, enable marking with scent trails, and even play a role in regulating body temperature through sweat glands. Not a few dog owners find the specific smell of their dog's paws pleasant.

Given their importance for the health and well-being of your dog, paw care deserves special attention. Regular inspection and cleaning after walks are essential, especially if the toe spaces are contaminated with dirt, sand, and the like. A bath may be necessary, otherwise, a damp cloth is often sufficient for cleaning.

Below, we explain how to properly clean and care for your dog's paws to ensure the comfort and well-being of your four-legged friend.

Should You Clean Your Dog's Paws After Every Walk?

Cleaning your dog's paws after every walk is crucial and should be integrated into your routine. The paws are the dirtiest part of your dog's body, picking up a significant amount of dirt and debris wherever they go. Imagine walking barefoot on asphalt, grass, fields, or forests without cleaning your feet before entering your home. Visible dirt is not the only potential danger, as millions of bacteria cling to the paws and can be spread throughout the house. Even a small cut, crack, or wound on the paws can lead to an infection if germs penetrate the injured tissue.

In addition to removing dirt and bacteria, paw cleaning provides the opportunity to inspect your dog's paws for wounds, cracks, and inflammation. You can also look for ticks that like to hide between the toes. Small, sharp objects that get stuck between the paws can also be detected and removed. In hot weather, cleaning the paws can protect against burns caused by heated asphalt. In winter, icy temperatures and road salt can lead to cracked and painful paws.

Beginner Tips for Dog Paw Care

Start early to get your dog used to paw care. Keep paw care short and positive, and reward your dog for cooperation. Pay attention to signs of discomfort and adjust the care accordingly.

Here are some simple tips to start caring for your dog's paws:

Regular Cleaning: After each walk, clean your dog's paws with a damp towel or cloth. Remove coarse dirt and inspect the paws for stones, burrs, foxtails, snow, ice, and parasites such as ticks.

Winter Care: Special attention is required in the cold season. Clean your dog's paws with a damp cloth or in a bowl of warm water to remove road salt and grit residues. Then use a rich paw balm to protect the paws strained by the cold and prevent cracks.

Claw Control: Regularly check your dog's claws and trim them as needed with suitable claw clippers. Overly long claws can cause discomfort and misalignment.

Paw Fur Care: Don't forget to check and trim the fur between the paw pads and toes. Foreign objects such as stones or knots can accumulate here and lead to painful problems.

By regularly applying these tips, you can promote the health and well-being of your dog's paws and identify and treat potential problems early.

Careful Step-by-Step Paw Care

In addition to daily cleaning, you should regularly examine the paws for cracks, splinters, or injuries.

Here are the steps for caring for your dog's paws:

Step 1: Remove Foreign Objects. After walks or outdoor activities, you should check your dog's paws for small foreign objects such as pebbles or gravel. If you find such objects, remove them carefully with tweezers. Then, you should thoroughly wash the paws to prevent inflammation. If you notice larger injuries or cuts, a visit to the vet is advisable.

Step 2: Cleaning the Toe Spaces. Pay special attention to the toe spaces during paw care, as foreign objects can also accumulate here. In winter, snow can freeze between the toes. Use a damp cloth or a rag to clean the toe spaces.

Step 3: Trim Hair. Excessively long hair between the toes or around the pads can trap foreign objects and cause matting, which can favor parasites. You should regularly trim these hairs with special rounded scissors so that they do not protrude beyond the pads.

Step 4: Occasional Paw Soak. If your dog's paws are particularly stressed, you can occasionally bathe them in lukewarm water. This serves as additional cleaning and care but should not become a fixed routine.

Step 5: Trim Claws. Since many dogs walk on softer surfaces, their claws wear down less. It is important to ensure that the claws do not touch the ground when walking to avoid unnatural movement patterns or misalignments. Overly long claws can become ingrown, split, or break. Clipping the claws requires caution and sensitivity. If you are unsure, it is best to have a professional show you how to do it.

Step 6: Apply Paw Balm. Regularly check the condition of the skin on your dog's paw pads. If the skin is dry, cracked, or strained, use a special paw balm or ointment to care for it and prevent cracks. Coconut oil can also be used as an alternative, as it protects and nourishes the paw pads. However, avoid using vaseline as it is not very breathable.

Preventing Dirt from Dirty Paws in the Home

To protect your home from dirt caused by your pet's dirty paws, you can take the following measures:

Use an Entrance Mat or Dog Paw Cleaning Mat: Place a mat in the entrance area of your home to capture the initial dirt. This mat can also serve as a convenient spot to clean your dog's paws after a walk. You can easily clean the mat with a powerful vacuum cleaner to avoid dirt buildup in the living spaces.

Fit Your Dog with Dog Shoes: Dog shoes not only protect your dog's paws but can also be a helpful preventive measure. They shield against extreme weather conditions such as heat and cold.

Utilize a Mudroom: A mudroom or hallway can serve as a buffer zone to keep dirt from entering the house. Here, you can calmly clean your dog's paws after a walk without them tracking dirt further into the house.

Regular Paw Care: Make sure to regularly trim the fur between your dog's paw pads and toes to reduce dirt buildup. Thorough paw care not only promotes cleanliness but can also provide your dog with a pleasant wellness experience.

By taking these measures, you can maintain cleanliness in your home while keeping your dog's paws in good condition.

When Your Dog Refuses to Have Their Paws Cleaned – What You Can Do

If your dog resists, slowly introduce them to the procedure with a lot of patience. Start with short sessions and reward every positive reaction. If in doubt, the assistance of a professional groomer or dog trainer can be helpful.

Training commands for paw care can help both you and your dog ease into the routine of cleaning their paws. Here are some tips:

Command "Shake Paw": Teach your dog the command "shake paw" by teaching them to lift their paw and offer it to you upon your signal. This makes paw cleaning easier as your dog willingly presents their paws.

Start Early: It's advisable to start training for paw cleaning as early as possible, ideally when your dog is still a puppy. Even if the paws aren't dirty, practice this routine regularly. The earlier your dog develops the habit, the better they will accept it.

Use Rewards: Reward your dog with small treats or praise after successfully cleaning their paws. This associates paw care with positive experiences, making your dog more likely to cooperate. You can also use clicker training to reinforce the behavior.

Be Patient: It's important to remain patient and not give in, even if your dog initially resists paw cleaning. This step is particularly important in winter to protect the paws from the effects of salt and snow. Stay consistent and stick to the paw care routine. Over time, your dog will get used to it and accept it.

Paw Care with Bellfor Products

To complete the guide to caring for your dog's paws, it's important to also address special ointments that can contribute to the treatment and prevention of common paw problems. Callus Ointment and Paw Protection Ointment are two essential products that should not be missing from any dog care kit.

Callus Ointment is specially formulated for dogs prone to calluses due to their age or living conditions. This ointment helps soothe the affected areas, promotes healing, and provides a protective barrier against further friction.

Paw Protection Ointment, on the other hand, is ideal for protecting your dog's paws from extreme weather conditions, whether it's the heat of summer or the cold of winter. It forms a protective layer that shields the sensitive paws from road salt, ice, hot asphalt, and rough surfaces.

Interesting Fact: Are Dog Paws Really Cleaner Than Human Shoes?

This is indeed an interesting and surprising finding! In a pilot study on dog paw contamination, 25 assistance dogs and 25 pet dogs, along with their respective 50 owners, were tested after a 15-30 minute walk. It was found that 81% of assistance dogs were denied access to hospitals, with hygiene cited as the main reason. Dog paws often had fewer bacteria compared to human shoe soles and tested negative for enterobacteria. This could indicate that dogs' paws carry fewer germs than human shoe soles.

However, it is important to note that paw care in dogs plays an important role in maintaining health and cleanliness. Regular cleaning and grooming of paws can help ensure your dog has healthy paws. Despite the seemingly clean paws of dogs, hygiene remains crucial, especially when they are in hospitals or other sensitive environments.

Conclusion

Paw care is an essential part of overall dog care that goes far beyond mere cleanliness. It significantly contributes to the quality of life and well-being of your dog. By regularly cleaning, applying protective and healing balms, and following professional care tips, you can keep your dog's paws healthy and identify and treat problems early. Conscious paw care also strengthens the bond between you and your dog, ensuring that your furry friend feels completely comfortable.