My dog's paw is raw and painful from borax. How can I help it heal?

Try soaking it in some warm water with Epsom salt if he will allow it-- this is easiest to do by putting the water and epsom salt in a plastic bag and putting his paw into the plastic bag. If you can do this for about 10 minutes or so, that may help if he has any debris , sticker, grass seed, etc that is embedded in the skin. If he is licking at it, be sure to put an Ecollar (cone of shame) on him. Dry it with a towel then allow to air dry, then you can use this product on it: If it is not improving within a couple of days, take him in to your vet. Thanks for asking PetCoach!

I would recommend having him stand in an Epson salt bath for 5-10 minutes 2-3 times a day. You'll have to use the tub for a dog of his size, and make sure the water is just lukewarm and that he doesn't drink any. You can give him his dinner piece by piece over 5 minutes to keep his interest. Once you're able to, definitely get him in to the vet to determine the underlying cause of the sores. I hope that helps Chance feel a bit better in the mean time.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sometimes, rest and some topical antiseptic such as Vetericyn wound spray are enough for minor wounds on the paw pads to heal. Vetericyn is available at most Petco locations and on Petco.com, so just apply as labeled topically; it is not harmful if small amounts are swallowed were she to lick it off of the area, though Alivas may need an Elizabethan collar to prevent her from licking the wound to allow it to heal. If the pain persists or the wound continues draining for longer than 1-2 more days, I would recommend having her seen by your Veterinarian, sooner if either her pain or the drainage worsen. Keep her activity level down until healed, especially off of rocks and other rough/sharp surfaces. I hope this helps!

If BoDeen is only licking one paw then he may have something between his toes that is causing a problem. I will usually recommend soaking the foot in Epsom Salts (following the instructions on the box for making it up) for 5 minutes then just drying it well. That can be repeated twice daily. You should also try to figure out a way to prevent him from licking at the foot and to protect it. I like a light boot like TheraPaw Boot ( https://www.therapaw.com/therapawboot ), but you may also be able to find something at a local pet store that would work. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

Disinfection may be started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths twice daily for 5 days. Buster collar may be useful as well to avoid any licking (if any). If the wound does not heal in 5 days a check up would be required. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

If pododermatitis is related to an environmental allergy, wiping the feet with a washcloth every time your pet comes in from going outdoors can help limit exposure to allergens. I also sometimes recommend soaking the feet in warm water with some Epsom salts. Many times antibiotics or antifungals are necessary so if Buster's feet are very red or painful or if you notice sores you should see your veterinarian.