My dog cut his paw. When is it safe for him to run, jump, and play?

Paw pad injuries should heal pretty quickly if they are going to heal at home. You can use sharp scissors and remove that flap of skin (but don't cut super close to the edge of the paw). Most of the time, this flap of skin will be like a cuticle on your finger so it doesn't cause pain to remove it. If it seems painful, don't cut it. After 5 days, the tissue underneath the flap should be looking more like the exterior paw pad. It should be darkening in color and not looking raw. If this is occurring, that's a good sign and Hercules seems to be healing it on his own. You can stop bandaging it. Continue to antibiotics for a full 10 days or until the wound is fully healed. You must prevent all licking and he should wear an elizabethan collar at all times. You must also prevent all trauma so no walks, running or jumping until the paw is fully healed. The paw shoudl be completely healed within 10-14 days from the time of the cut. If the paw still looks raw, has any discharge, pain or swelling at this time, Hercules needs to be examined by the veterinarian as this is abnormal and not expected. If at any point the cut shows any of these symptoms, he should be examined. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Ouch! I would keep the paw as clean and dry as possible, and keep Nike from licking at it by placing an Elizabethan (cone) collar on him. Limiting activity so he doesn't keep walking on it and introducing any more debris into the foot is also a good idea. Since it is such a big wound, seeing if you can get into the vet sooner is also a good idea so he can get started on pain meds or antibiotics as needed.

An e-collar (cone) will go a long way in aiding in healing. Keep it on until the wound is completely healed. Limit activity to just leash walks for elimination. Avoid excessive running jumping or rough play. Vetericyn Plus spray (https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/dog/dog-health-and-wellness/vetericyn-plus-wound-and-skin-care-for-dogs ) may also speed healing. You can find it in the local Petco.

Aw, I bet that stings for sure! If the nails were pulled completely and cleanly, they aren't likely to become heavily infected. If there are remnants left behind, they rest needs to be dealt with by a veterinarian so they can grown back in properly. As for the chunk of tissue missing, this has a much higher likelihood for complications from infection. Since I can not see it, I can't say whether or not it needs to be assessed, closed, sutured, stapled etc. You may want to have someone take a look at it. If not, make sure to flush the area with some chlorhexidine solution, keep it clean as possible, make sure that Teddy can't lick the area (use an e-collar), and possibly apply topical antimicrobial ointment. Teddy would likely benefit from some pain medication and antibiotics, but a vet visit would definitely be required to obtain those. Hope this is helpful!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Billie! Paw pad lacerations take much longer to heal than other locations on the body because it’s a weight bearing surface. It can take 2-3 weeks. You will need to give it more time. Consider bandaging the leg and using medihoney on the wound. If you bandage the leg she needs to keep it dry and it needs to be changed every other say and every time it gets wet. Also strict exercise restriction: no running, jumping, playing with other dogs and being on a leash when outside will help healing. Good luck

Poor Lobo! It looks like this cut is starting to heal, so I would keep an eye on it for now. Keep the area clean and dry, and if you see any signs of infection (redness, swelling, warmth to the touch, and pus), then I would take him into the vet to have it treated. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

Poor guy. Most wounds heal within 7-10 days. Delayed healing occurs in older dogs and in cases of active infection. Nails can take several weeks to months to regrow. I hope this helps. Best wishes with Panda and if it is not healing well then a visit to vet is needed to get him started on a good wound management regimen. Take care.