Lacerated toe pad

**Burns** · 06-13-2008, 09:34 AM

Poor Redders is having a bad week

First it was the hookworms that I've finished treating him for today, and now a lacerated paw pad.

James noticed blood spots on the floor late last night, and upon examination, the P3 toe pad on his left rear foot has a deep clean laceration, from one end of the pad to the other.

I soaked it in warm betadine solution, flushed it with a syringe, and then used nexaband (surgical glue) and glued it back together. This morning I didn't let him stay outside very long, then cleaned and briefly soaked it again and used a little more glue on a spot that was slightly open.

The wound and surrounding area looks ok - not swollen or seeming irritated in any way. He's not limping on it, but he was licking seemed uncomfortable while I was treating it so I gave him some tramadol, leftover pain meds from his neuter, last night and this morning.

I have no idea how he could've done it. It had to be something in the yard. We have found glass out by the shed from the previous owner, but thought we got all of it picked up. Maybe some more was unearthed with all the rain? I dunno, now I'm all paranoid to let him out there!

Has anyone else's dog suffered a lacerated pad? How long did it take to completely heal?

edh · 06-13-2008, 09:57 AM

Sorry to hear about the pad. I've had it happen on a previous dog many years back. It took couple of weeks. Its like one of that areas that as soon as it gets better they are all over it again and break it open. We didn't have acess to surgical glue back then. Just stitches from the vet.

**Colorado Dobes** · 06-13-2008, 09:58 AM

Aw, Burns, I'm so sorry poor Red is having a bad week! He is too sweet of a boy to be hurt!!!

Can you buy nexaband OTC? If so, I should probably get some and have it on hand, as mine are always getting banged up.

Sorry, I have no experience with a sliced toe pad, so I can't be of much help, but I hope he feels better soon.

**Burns** · 06-13-2008, 10:12 AM

Thanks guys. I feel so bad - he wants to go outside and I won't let him. The less dirty his feet are, the better. And I wanted to go to the pet store today and practice for his CGC too

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colorado Dobes

Can you buy nexaband OTC? If so, I should probably get some and have it on hand, as mine are always getting banged up.

I'm not sure.. I got mine from my work. I just did a search and found it on a couple of websites so it looks like you can buy it OTC. Here's one link I found: Nexaband Liquid (1.5 mL)

**dobermansrule** · 06-13-2008, 10:31 AM

not a lacerated pad but a month ago I started biking Quincy and both front big pads got big raw spots that bled initially. Took two weeks to clear up. We put socks on his feet - that helped a lot. Or you could use doggy boots?

**Burns** · 06-13-2008, 10:37 AM

I called the doctor I work with and explained it to her and told her how I treated it, and she said since it's closed now, it should be just fine. I'm not going to soak anymore since that could disinegrate the glue, and we will have to be careful when wiping his feet when we bring him in so we don't reopen it.

I think it was a clean enough cut, and I caught it soon afterwards and flushed it out really well and closed it, that it shouldn't take too long to heal. I'm going to keep a close eye on it for swelling or irritation though in case I need to put him on a course of antibiotics. And also watch for pain/discomfort and do pain meds as needed.

ok, I think I'm going to go to the pet store now. I feel better after talking to her

Thanks guys!

DLS · 06-13-2008, 10:41 AM

I have had them sutured before, but not worth it as it only lasted 24 hrs. before it opening up again. They do take some time to heal as they MUST heal from the inside out. I soaked the foot in a salt water solution 2 times a day. Helped a lot with the healing, soreness, bleeding etc. I also put Olive oil infused with St. Johns Wort on the cut, an excellent pain reliever and antiseptic.

**melbrod** · 06-13-2008, 11:02 AM

We have had two cuts right above and between the toe pads that required stitches (different dogs). We did put socks on their feet and limited their outdoor forays to potty breaks for the first couple of days. They healed nicely. Our current has ripped the callus off his pad(s) a couple of times (fast starts after tennis balls on rocky soils). They heal amazingly fast. Going to try that "musher's" product when my order arrives.

Cupasoop · 06-13-2008, 11:21 AM

Must be the week for it, Bailey tore a small bit off a pad on his right front foot on Tuesday. After cleaning it we put a bandage round it and taped a sock over his foot to stop him nibbling at it. Also lets him walk around outside without it getting dirty again.

Santa · 06-13-2008, 12:13 PM

Zac has had this a few times now and it's getting quite frustrating. Sometimes it seems to be from glass, other times maybe we've just overdone it on the rough ground, I'm not sure. Surgical glue doesn't seem a popular option here - my vet always says the priority is to keep it clean, meaning bathing it in warm salt water with a couple of drops of tea tree, drying it thoroughly and applying some Blastoestimulina cream a couple of times a day. After the cream I usually put boots on until it sinks in or if he needs to walk anywhere. Then we just have to wait for it to heal, which usually takes a good couple of weeks. The only other problem is that he worries at the wound, licking and licking, which doesn't help it heal, so I have to put the booties on sometimes to stop him. The glue sounds like a good idea but Spain is usually a bit backwards in these kinds of things!