Hi everyone.

Yesterday I went for my boy's weekly 10km run and this morning I noticed he was limping when climbing the stairs. I immediatly started to check his legs for any injury. The legs themselves are ok but I noticed that he has cracked pads on 2 feet. It seems rather painful. I can usually do anything with him but now he barely lets me touch his feet and he will not move unless he really has to.


I feel like it's my fault that he's hurt and don't want to have him in pain like this ever again. But he LOVES it soo much when we go for a run...

Can you guys suggest anything to prevent this from happening again? And how would you treat his paws so he be back on his feet sooner rather than later?

Thanks you for any help!

Check out this previous thread. I found it helpful myself.

https://www.itsahuskything.com/t9987-dry-cracked-paws?highlight=cracked

Musher's Secret is what I have been using on Kale, really like it for daily walks, runs, etc. For inbetween moisturizing, I use either Wagberry, or the Pet Head Oatmeal Paw Butter. Both work fantastic and they smell really good lol

Musher's Secret. You can get it from a few different places, http://www.alpineoutfitters.net/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=218 is where I got mine, like 16 bucks I think, they seemed to have raised the price to 21 bucks. For how awesome it is, I would pay 50 bucks and I wouldn't care. You just use it once a week or more if you have a lot of outdoor activity exposure... and it makes a protective layer so that walking on hard surfaces such as asphalt, or even the cold snow, isn't as over excruciating for your dog. It moisturizes and it made from all natural waxes and what not.

coconut oil - and if they lick it, it's safe.

Thank you very much for the tips.

I've used vaseline overnight and put socks on his feet to prevent ingestion. Had a good laugh when he tried to get up and walk. Looked like he forgot how to put a foot in front of the other. But it was Worth it. Pads look much better after 2 days.

Tomorrow I'm going for a tour of the animal shops to find some musher's secret. The hardest part is to prevent running for a couple weeks while it heals.

Musher Secret is great, don't stop until you find it!

You can also buy it online at Amazon. That's where I got mine. I got the smaller one and paid around $10. It's big enough for me to dip her paw in it then rub the wax around the creases in her paws.

There is a dog sledding company in Banff, Alberta. Snowy Owl Sled Dog Tours. I'm not sure if they use Musher's Secret, but they might be able to locate a store that is local to you in your area.

Toll Free: 1 888 311 MUSH (6874)

Phone: 403 678 4369

Also I know sled dogs used the little booties to help prevent pad and foot injuries. You could also get him some booties to use.

mbarnard0429 wrote:

coconut oil - and if they lick it, it's safe.

Do you have any brand examples? It might sound silly but I don't even know where to look for it.

Grocery stores tend to have it I can get it at Big lots and Winco, I don't know if either of those stores are in Wisconsin. But it's also at walmart.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Spectrum-Naturals-Organic-Coconut-Oil-14-Fl-Oz/10535750

This is the kind I get its also good to use to cook pop corn and to make pasta with.

Oh, o.k., it's in the food section! Thank you.

I really like it for dogs because its safe if they eat it. But yeah normally its buy the other cooking oils

Do they use a lot of salt where you are? Lately our sidewalks and roads have been coated in salt. I'm wondering if that might have something to do with the pads drying out. I've been trying to rinse Dizzy's paws off with water every couple of days to clear the salt.

Jen and other thing with that I know some people who keep unscented baby wipes by the door and wipe off there dogs feet when they come in from a walk. Might be a thing to try with the ice melt.

Playing with the Big Dogs wrote:

Jen and other thing with that I know some people who keep unscented baby wipes by the door and wipe off there dogs feet when they come in from a walk. Might be a thing to try with the ice melt.

This is what we have been doing with Achilles, primarily to keep his paws clean/prevent any infectious stuff from sticking to him until his shots are done, and partially because his wet, salty paws will leave prints all over the hardwood floors.

We have a jar of Musher's secret, too, and he's getting used to us messing with his paws, which is great.