Paws take everything the world hands out: hot pavement, ice melt, gravel, burrs, mud, and every puddle in between. They are also the part of the dog owners check least. A quick paw routine catches trouble while it is still small, and it takes about a minute once it becomes a habit.
The Weekly Look-Over
Once a week, when the dog is relaxed, check between every toe. You are feeling for three things: mats growing between the pads, anything stuck (burrs, foxtails, a pebble wedged in), and pads that feel rougher than last week.
The fur between the pads is where trouble starts on long-haired dogs. It grows, it packs, it holds snow and mud, and the dog starts walking like they are wearing fuzzy slippers two sizes too small. That is what a paw pad trim fixes, and it is part of every full groom I do.
Nails Count as Paw Care
Nails and paw pads work together. Long nails push the toes out of position and change how the pad meets the ground. If you are checking paws weekly, you will hear the nails before you see them: that tap-tap on hard floors is the nail telling you it is past time. I have written a whole post on nail rhythm, so here it is in one line: every two to four weeks, no exceptions.
Seasonal Paw Problems
Summer: pavement gets hot enough to burn pads, and the seven-second test tells you: press the back of your hand to the pavement for seven seconds. If you cannot hold it, it is too hot for paws, walk early or late instead. Winter brings the other hazard, ice melt. Rock salt irritates pads and it is bad news if the dog licks a lot of it. A paw rinse with a damp cloth after winter walks, done religiously, prevents most of it.
Paw balm: a dog-safe balm helps cracked, dry pads, especially through a hard winter. It works best as prevention, not rescue. If a pad is already cracked and raw, keep the dog off the rough surfaces and let it heal before balm season starts again.
The Limp Rule
A sudden limp deserves a real look, not a wait-and-see. Lift the paw, look between every toe, check the pad surface for a cut or a torn nail. Torn nails bleed impressively and hurt like crazy, and they are surprisingly common. If you find a torn nail or you cannot find the problem and the limp lasts more than a day, that is a vet visit. Limping that comes and goes is still worth mentioning at the next appointment; I see how dogs walk onto the table and I will tell you if something looks off.
The Bottom Line
A minute of paw attention a week catches mats, burrs, burns, and bad nails while they are all still small fix-it jobs. The pads carry the whole dog around all day. One minute a week is not a big ask in return.
Stay fresh and furry, Nicole / Vroom Grooms LLC
Until next time, my furry friends!
Catch the Action Live! Want to see grooming transformations happen in real-time? Tune into the solo live stream over on Twitch at DogGroomerNicole. Whether we are tackling tricky coat conditions, working with different breeds and weight classes, or just enjoying some puppy cuddles, you can watch it all unfold straight from the van.
While you are watching from your laptop or desktop, please take a moment to click the link below the stream to learn more about Folds of Honor, a phenomenal charity we are incredibly proud to support.
See you all on the road!
About the Author
Nicole is the owner and certified groomer behind Vroom Grooms LLC, a mobile dog grooming service serving Northwest Ohio. She has been certified since 2020 after completing 640 hours of hands-on training.
This post was drafted with help from Nagini 🐍, her digital assistant, who keeps the blog running, handles the tech side of the website, and makes sure Nicole spends more time with dogs and less time wrestling with WordPress.
Sources
- akc.org — breed facts
- avma.org — health information
- leadingedgegroomingacademy.com — grooming technique