How To Heal Dog Fingertip Injuries
The injuries to the finger tips of the dogs can be caused by trauma, burns or erosion. Imagine always walking barefoot, without shoes or socks, around the street … You should take special care of your feet!
The same happens with animals in general and with dogs in particular. In this article we will explain how to treat fingertip injuries in dogs.
Why do dogs hurt their fingertips?
Many owners worry about the condition and health of their pet’s paws, even wondering what fingertip injuries can result from.
While it is best to prevent injury, if you see blood or any other signs of injury, it is essential to seek treatment.
To do this, we must first discover something more about the fingertips of dogs, which more or less perform the function of our shoes.
This is in fact the part of the body that comes into contact with different surfaces and helps prevent bone or joint problems, cushioning the steps and helping the dog to walk more lightly.
Despite being a hardy area, it can easily be damaged. The injuries on the fingertips are more frequent than we think, since very often the animal does not perceive this danger and does not realize that it can harm itself.
Fingertip injuries in dogs can be grouped as follows:
1. Fingertip injuries due to erosion
They occur in all animals due to wear of the soles of the feet, especially from contact with concrete or other hard surfaces.
Also, both excess and lack of exercise can cause this type of injury. Although they are not serious, they are the most frequent cases of injury to the fingertips.
2. Injuries to the fingertips from burns
When it is very hot and sunny, it is advisable not to walk the dog. In addition to the problem of dehydration (which can mainly affect brachycephalic breeds or obese animals) the fingertips can burn when in contact with hot asphalt.
The same thing happens when it is cold and snowing, or when the dog walks on frozen surfaces.
Even with breeds suited to these climatic conditions, such as the Alaskan Malamute or Husky, great care must be taken when walking on snowy surfaces.
3. Injuries to the fingertips due to trauma
This group includes injuries caused by sharp or dangerous objects that can stick into the animal’s paw: sticks, branches, metal, pieces of glass and so on.
This type of trauma involves wounds of greater consideration, which can make the animal bleed and hurt him a lot. If not treated in time, they can lead to infections.
How to treat fingertip injuries
It is very important to avoid any situation that could result in an injury to your dog’s fingertips, but if this happens you need to know how to treat the problem.
In the case of a minor injury, home remedies can be put in place, but if it is an injury or if the animal cannot walk due to pain, it is best to take it to a vet.
Once you have identified the type of injury or if you have noticed that your fingertips have hardened or cracked, the steps to follow are:
1. Wash with clean water
Many times it is better to clean the fingertip to avoid major inconveniences. Have your dog lie on his side and wash his paws with warm water to remove impurities and promote healing. This procedure will also serve to calm the animal in case of burns and to make it relax.
2. Trim the hair around the area
Although hair acts as a “protection” against foreign bodies that could get stuck in the fingertips, in the case of wounds they can promote infections.
Once the area has been cleaned, therefore, it is advisable to trim the hair too much to prevent more dirt from accumulating.
3. Wash with hydrogen peroxide
As soon as the area is clean and shaved, if you find even a superficial wound, it is important to disinfect it with hydrogen peroxide.
Moisten a piece of gauze and gently wipe the area: it will not hurt the animal and has no side effects.
4. Give suitable medicines
You can ask the veterinarian if it is appropriate to continue with other medications, such as diluted iodine or chlorhexidine digluconate for animal use. They are available in sprays and are easily applied.
In the case of burn injuries, there are creams or gels to decongest the area. You could also bandage your fingertips to keep the medicine from spreading once applied.
Don’t overlook injuries to your dog’s fingertips – they can be very painful and prevent him from walking well.
