cut pads

bcl · Post by **bcl** » Fri Aug 22, 2003 4:45 pm

Doc my dog cut a front pad fairly deep and we noticed it that night. We washed it with surgical soap and a syringe to flush it out. We applied a antibiotic and gave penicillin daily. there has been no sign of infection so my question is how long does it take for a pad to heal. I can see it is going to heal from the inside out will it heal and be as tough as it was before.

Emery · Post by **Emery** » Fri Aug 22, 2003 9:08 pm

Well, since you didn't know exactly when it happened, it is a good idea not to close it up. It will take more time to heal this way, just keep a good eye on it and keep it clean. Stay away from using peroxide on it. The scar tissue will form and eventually close up the cut. My guess is that is should ruogh up and texture like the rest of the pad over time. You will probably have a tenter footed dog for a while as pads heal slowly. I have heard of people using superglue to close up a pad and having good results. However, I have learned from experience that when I find a wound that I didn't know when it happened to not close it up. (expamle: My first dog had a gash on her hind quarter that was right down to the muscle tissue. We came home one night and noticed this from while she was in the back yard. Anyway, my wife went out to her office and got all the cleaning stuff and sutures and we shaved up the leg, disinfected it and closed it up. In a couple of days, it broke open and was all full of infection. Well, we opened it back up all the way and really cleaned it up well and got the dog on some anti-biotics. It closed up in about a couple of weeks and everything was fine.) Whew, I got long winded there... I would say that unless your vet closes it up, just keep it clean and do a week long regimine of anti-biotics and you should be ok.

Best of luck,
Emery

Doc S · Post by **Doc S** » Sat Aug 23, 2003 5:11 am

Cut pads are a royal pain-in-the-neck! I just saw a dog from down below that was up camping with a cut pad. What I have started doing on these is treating them as an open wound for a few days: bandages, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and rest. I will then re-evaluate after 5-7 days and may close up at that point or continue to let it granulate. Pads are not generally as tough if allowed to heal without surgical repair. If allowed to granulate in and heal on their own, expect a total heal time of 4-8 weeks. Doc S