The Ultimate Paw Care Guide for Singaporean Dog Owners.

Your pet’s paws and nose are their main ways of adventuring and interacting with the world around them. That is why we take great care of our fur-kid’s paws to ensure that he is ever ready to take on the world we bring them to.

The daily walks on Singapore’s heated pavements under the hot sun burns our puppy’s paws on a regular basis and damages their paw skin, causing them to become dried up and chafed. It might seem common for our dogs and cats to lick their paws, and may even seem like an adorable moment to capture on video. However, if the licking becomes too much, it might be a sign that their paw pads are irritated or injured.

What are dog and cat paws?

Both dogs and cats have four paws that help them to get around, cushion their body weight and allow them to manipulate objects. There are some interesting similarities and differences that you might notice.

One similarity is that both dogs and cats sweat through their paws. It helps with heat dissipation when the weather gets too hot, especially in climates such as Singapore where it's hot year-round.

Some of the differences include a number of paw pads and functions of their claws. Cats have 7 paw pads with retractable claws whilst dogs have 6 paw pads with extended claws. All paws are used to play or interact with the world around them.

Why do we need to care for our dog’s paws?

Your pet’s paws are what protects them from harm while they go on adventures with you. The paw pads act as shock absorbers when your pup runs and jumps about. They also work like brakes to help your dog navigate steep and slippery surfaces.

For dogs in Singapore, daily walks in the neighbourhood are common, and the heated pavement often scorches and burns our puppy’s paws without us realising it. This is because their paw pads provide insulation and your puppy does not know that it's too hot. Always make sure to check if the weather or outdoors is too hot for your dog’s paws as it may cause their paw pads to dry, crack and swell. An easy way to check will be to put your foot on the pavement for five seconds, if it's unbearable, then it’s too hot for your dog to walk on.

Six Tips For Taking Care of Your Dog’s Paws

1. Paw Pedicures

Always keep your dog’s nails trimmed so that they just about touch the ground when they walk. If their nails are clicking when they walk around at home, then it is time for a pedicure. You can ask your vet or groomer for advice on what type of nail trimmers to use, and how to trim your puppy's nails properly. Keeping their nails short and neat will prevent nails from getting snagged or hitting the hard floor on your daily walks causing them to crack and break.

2. Paw Cleaning

Keeping your dog’s paws squeaky clean is important so that it discourages the growth of yeast and bacteria. This happens more often than pawrents think, as yeast and bacteria build-up is common between paw pads. A simple way to prevent this will be to rinse their paws at the end of the day with some water-diluted apple cider vinegar solution. This helps to kill yeast and bacteria, and also rinses off any dirt or mud trapped in your pup’s paws, fur, and unreachable places in their paw pads. Remember to dry the paws with an absorbent towel, or blow-dry them with cool air.

3. Moisturise

Paw pads can crack and bleed if they get too dry. You should regularly hydrate your dog’s paw pads with paw balms that have been verified by vets, such as Natural Dog Company’s Paw Soother. Do not use lotions or moisturisers that are not meant for dogs as they will soften your dog’s paw pads too much and lead to excessive injury.

If your puppy has been licking their paws excessively, then their paws are likely too dry and chaffed. Use an organic and natural healing paw balm to instantly soothe their dried up paw pads.

4. Avoid Hot Surfaces

In Singapore’s hot weather, our pavements and floors get heated up very often and may get too hot for our dog’s paws. Our dog’s paws are able to provide some insulation which prevents heat or cold from hurting their paws too quickly. However, long-term exposure to hot pavements will still harm their paw pads.

Some signs of damage include tenderness, blisters, loose flaps of skin, and red ulcers. For minor burns, apply an antibacterial wash and apply some paw soothers before covering with a dog bootie or sock. For serious burns, bring your dog to visit the vet immediately.

5. Practice Prevention

To reduce the risk of paw injury, be conscious of the hazards when walking your dog outdoors. Look out for common rubbish and debris in Singapore that might be common; such as lit cigarette buds, broken glass, sharp pavements and stone. A simple tip to remember - if you would not like to walk on it barefoot, neither will your dog!

6. Apply First Aid

Finally, it is not unusual if your dog suffers cuts or wounds on their paws or other areas as they are naturally active both indoors and outdoors. For small cuts or wounds smaller than one centimetre, you can clean them with an antibacterial wash and apply some skin soother or paw soother to the affected area. For deeper or larger wounds, bring your pup to see the vet immediately.

If you have any other paw care tips to share with the BELLY UP community, reach out to us via email so that we can share them with others too!

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xo
Nellie