HOW TO TREAT PAW INJURIES

Your dog's paws can be exposed to many dangers while walking outdoors. While your dog's paws have a protective padding, there are sharp objects that can pierce the pad and hurt their paws. If you ever find your dog in this situation, here are some tips that can help treat the injury:

1. Inspect all of his paws to see exactly how many paws have been injured.

2. Trim the fur around his paw(s) so you can better see the injury.

3. Clean and remove any particles from his paw(s) by soaking the paw(s) in warm water for about 10 minutes.

4. After soaking, wash his paw(s) with a pet-friendly, antibacterial soap and rinse.

5. Use paper towels to dry his paw(s) - avoid using towels as they can often transfer bacteria back to your dog's paw(s).

6. Examine his paw(s) for any embedded glass or other particles and gently remove them with tweezers. If you feel uncomfortable with doing this, give your vet a call.

7. Your vet may also be able to provide disinfectants and antibiotics to kill any remaining germs and promote healing.