Your dog can get pad burns easily. When the air temperature is only in the high 70’s on a sunny Chicagoland summer day, asphalt temps can easily exceed 125 degrees - and that’s hot enough to destroy skin in just 60 seconds! And when it’s as hot as it has been in the last few weeks, pad damage can happen in under ten seconds.

Pad burns should be treated immediately to prevent further damage to the tissue. Here's how to treat your pet’s pad burns until you can get to the vet for further care.

• Immediately put your dog’s feet in cold water for at least 10 minutes. You can use a bathtub or a simple pan as long as the whole paw is submerged.

• If your dog refuses to keep her paw submerged, wet a washcloth and keep it pressed firmly against her paw for 10 minutes.

• After the pad has soaked, gently wash the pad with mild soap and water. Your dog's paw will be extra sensitive so be careful while doing this.

• After you have thoroughly washed the pad, gently pat it dry with a towel. Do not rub the pad dry as this will only further irritate the skin.

• Apply a thin film of an antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin, or the herbal ointment Calendula or (ideally) homotoxicologic Traumeel ointment, to the pad. This will help it heal. Your vet will replace this later with an ointment or spray that will also relieve pain.

• Cover the paw with a sock or gauze pads to prevent your pet from licking the burn.

• If you have the oral homotoxicologic medication Trameel, start giving one tab every 2 (two) hours until you see your vet.

• Make an appointment to have your pet seen ASAP. Burns WILL get worse before they get better, and it is important for your vet to treat the burned pads promptly, as well as to treat the pain and inflammation.

• QUESTIONS?

Call Diane or Stefanee, our Certified Veterinary Technicians, at 847-891-8944

• E-mail us at: knollwoodnews@gmail.com