Grooming your dog's paws is essential for their well-being. They require regular care to stay healthy and avoid issues. After all, their paws play a vital role in their movement. Whether jumping, running, chasing, or playing, the strength of their paws ensures that they are resilient enough to carry them over soft grass or carpet and rough pavement or gravel. 

Because their paws are exposed to different surfaces, they are prone to irritation or infections that can result in difficulty for them to walk. 

So here are some tips on properly maintaining your dog's paws—from their nails to the pads.

Trimming Nails

A dog's nails are very important to them. They help protect the paw pads by providing extra support, especially when a dog is walking on a hard surface. Their nails need to be trimmed regularly. 

If a dog's nails are not clipped, they will begin to curl and puncture paw pads that would later cause pain. Long toenails also have a greater chance of breaking. Depending on where they break, this can also be extremely painful.

Many people seem to think that getting a dog accustomed to having its nails trimmed is a nightmare. Most dogs do not really like having their nails cut by a professional, let alone their owner. However, this should not hinder you from trimming your dog's nails to an appropriate length every week or two.

Whether you or a professional dog groomer trim your dog's nails, remember to be careful not to cut them too short. Otherwise, you could cut the nail's portion containing blood vessels.

Trimming Hair

While cutting their dog's nails is important, trimming the hair around the dog's paws is equally important. Few dog owners recognize this.

The hair around your dog's paws and between their toes can collect dirt while your dog runs around outside. When this happens, the hair can clump together and stick to your dog's toes. Dogs with medium- or long-haired coats can quickly form these clumps that make walking uncomfortable and increase the risk of injury.

As they walk on this hair, they may develop a wound or an irritation on the skin surrounding their paw. If you don't clean these areas, you may need to take them to a veterinarian for treatment, as they could become infected. 

Excess fur between and around the paws should be trimmed back and combed to prevent these complications with your dog's hair. This is likely to be easier done by a professional groomer. However, if you prefer, you may be able to teach yourself at home with your vet's advice on techniques.

Caring for the Paw Pads

The pads are the toughest yet most sensitive part of a dog's paw. These tough pieces of skin cushion the paws from impact and protect the bones underneath, but they are prone to thorns or nails easily puncturing them. When pads get too dry, they can get burned or crack and scrape, too. Any paw pad injury is prone to infection. 

For your dog to keep a healthy set of paws, protect them from the dangers of extreme summer heat or winter snow and ice. This can include using boots or socks and applying moisturizer to the pads of its paws. You must also check your home and backyard for any dangerous objects before letting your dog run loose.

Conclusion

Regularly inspect your dog's paws. Long nails, clumps of hair or debris between the toes, irritation, swelling, or paw pad dryness might be signs of an infection or injury. The tips in this article can help prevent paw infections and injuries.

If you prefer to leave the pet grooming to the professionals, The Ruff Life Mobile offers door-to-door dog grooming in the comforts of your home. We are the "world's best" New York-based mobile grooming service that can provide you with all your pet grooming needs. Contact us today!