A Good Dog Bed is Essential

Here's a great article that I thought I would pass on...hope you find it helpful! –Kim

Why Every Dog Needs a Bed

Your furry family member needs a warm, comfortable bed for the same reasons you do. A dog bed allows your pet to have his own space – a place to get a good night's sleep, relax when he is tired, or enjoy a safe, quiet retreat when life gets too hectic. It also provides him with insulation from a cold, hard floor and cushioned support for joints and bones.

Dog beds serve a practical purpose for dog owners, too – they help keep your canine off your sofa and bed and help contain pet hair and dander in one place.

How to pick the right bed for your dog

Make sure the bed is big enough. The bed should be large enough to support his entire body. Try measuring your dog and add five inches to ensure a comfortable fit.

Consider your dog's specific sleeping habits. Does he like to rest his head on a pillow or the arm of a sofa? If so, look for a bed with a raised side (see picture above). Does he like to burrow and nest? A soft, pillow-type bed or a "cave" may be the best choice (left).

Invest in quality. Orthopedic foam beds may be more expensive, but they provide superior support for bones and joints, hold their shape longer and will not need to be replaced as quickly as beds with traditional polyester filling or cedar chips.

Choose easy care fabrics. If your dog sheds or drools, you'll want a bed with an inner pillow that is reversible and machine-washable. If your dog chews everything to shreds, try a Kuranda bed.

In the colder weather or climates, consider a safety-tested heated dog bed. Or, in hot weather or climate areas, think about a safe cooling dog bed.

Get an outdoor-safe bed for an outdoor dog. If your dog spends a lot of time outside or sleeps in a doghouse, look for materials treated to eliminate mold, fungus and other outdoor hazards that may be harmful to your dog.

Where you place your dog's bed is important, too. Just remember, it's his resting place, so try to avoid a high traffic area of your home. Choose a room where you spend a lot of time, so your pooch can always be nearby. If your dog still uses a crate, you might want to put his bed inside the crate.

A good dog bed is not a luxury – it's an essential piece of furniture. So, take the time to find the right one. After all, you want the bed and the benefits it provides, to last a long time.

Source: http://www.pedigree.com/02All-Things-Dog/Article-Library/fetch.aspx?artId=706&catId=1&sCatId=12&catName=Puppy&sCatName=Socialization
© 2009 Mars, Incorporated and Affiliates

Why Does My Dog Scoot His Rear End?

Here's a great article that I thought I would pass on...hope you find it interesting! –Kim

Several Possible Reasons Why Your Dog Drags His Butt

When a dog scoots (drags) his rear end on the carpet, it can look bizarre — and even comical. And if it's done in front of visitors, it can also be embarrassing. If you've ever witnessed this behavior, you may have wondered what is driving your dog to do this. In almost all cases, your dog is trying to get relief from irritation in his anal region.

There are, in fact, several possible reasons for the irritation....

Full, swollen, or impacted anal glands. Your dog's anal glands are located on the sides of his rectum. If everything is normal with your dog, his anal glands will empty when he defecates. This is one way dogs mark their territory. However, if the glands become clogged due to an infection or another medical problem, your dog may not be able to express (empty) his glands. As a result, he will experience discomfort in the anal area. To relieve this irritation, he may drag his rear end on a rough surface, such as a carpet.

Tapeworm infection. When a dog is infected by tapeworms, his anal area could become irritated or itchy when small sections of the parasite exit his rectum.

Skin allergies. When a dog has allergies, any area of skin can become itchy, including the skin around his rectum and under his tail.

Dried fecal matter around the anus. Another reason for irritation around the anus has a very simple explanation: dried particles of stool that are stuck to the area. If this is the case, your dog's scooting might relieve the irritation — but it could result in stained carpets.

Treatment for the Conditions that Cause Scooting

Normally, your dog's anal glands will automatically empty (express) themselves when he moves his bowels. However, when the glands become clogged or swollen, professional help may be needed. If your dog occasionally scoots his rear end and you take him to a groomer on a regular basis, the groomer may be able to express your dog's anal glands. But if you've noticed that your dog is prone to this condition, it's best to take him to the vet for an examination. If left untreated, clogged anal glands can rupture — and you want to make sure your dog receives proper medical attention BEFORE that happens.

Tapeworms and skin allergies require treatment by your veterinarian. So if you notice your dog scooting, it's best to have him examined, so the cause of the problem can be identified and appropriate treatment administered.

Source: http://r2.vidiemi.com/vemail7/PD/hosted/r1064.aspx?CampaignID=1064&TAGID=015

The Complete Dog Food & Nutrition Guide

Valuable Resource...

Finally...All You Need
to Know about Your
Dog's Diet and Nutrition

Click below now to watch this short dog food video....

From Sharda Baker
Monday 11 May 2009

Dear fellow dog lover,
We have all heard the "horror stories" about the tainted, and sometimes toxic, dog foods on the market, AND ABOUT ALL THE DOG FOOD RECALLS.

Many of us are aware of the poor quality, sometimes useless, filler ingredients in many commercial dog foods and the dangers of many foods cooked in our homes for our dogs.

Even if you prepare your dog's food at home, there's the danger of feeding the wrong type of food.

They can rob your dog of… IT'S ENERGY, IT'S HEALTH, AND OF IT'S VERY LIFE ITSELF.

You are probably just like me, and like most responsible dog owners, just want the best for your dog within a certain budget, right?

Click Here to Start Improving Your Dog's Health Today

Alarm bells first started ringing for me regarding dog food, several years ago, after seeing the pain an acquaintance, Sonia (not her real name) went through after losing her 2 dogs, one aged eight and one six and a half. One of her dogs died of pancreatitis and one of heart failure, both of which can occur as a result of poor diet.

It wasn't really her fault though...

It's not that Sonia was a bad dog owner, she just did what many dog owners do… And what I used to do, she fed her dog a standard dog food she found in the supermarket plus some regular table scraps.

Like many of us, she didn't understand how to make sense out of a dog food label. On closer examination, the dog food she had been feeding was one of the worst ones available.Simply understanding the label would have alerted Sonia not to use that dog food. Plus, the indiscriminate feeding of table scraps also contributed to her two dog's untimely deaths.

And that was just the beginning for me.

Ever since I witnessed the pain that can be caused by losing a pet at a young age, I started looking into dog food more closely. It's been quite a journey I can tell you. We all recognize deep down that our dog's diet is paramount to good health, just as our own diet is vital to our own good health. Yet, we are often unsure, or at worst ill advised, how to best manage our dog's nutrition.

To Keep Your Dog Healthy, You Must Discover What to Look For, and How to Properly Read and Understand the Deceptive Practices in Dog Food Ingredient Labels.

This information I have put together will show you what some dog food companies don’t want you to know.

I put together the "Complete Guide To Your Dog's Nutrition" ebook and audio package over the last 11 and a half months and inside you'll find:

12 OF THE BEST dog food brands for you and… It informs you of what is actually used in each of the dog foods. And clearly tells you why each of the12 brands are some of the best to feed your dog. It also discusses in depth home cooked dog food, the BARF diet plus much more.

Would you like to know which brands of dog food and which human foods are the safest to feed your dog?

Don’t you owe it to your pet to find out?

Can't we just trust what the dog food companies tell us in their glossy multi-million dollar advertising campaigns?

Unfortunately, often we can't!

I know you are a lot like me and want to be sure you are feeding your dog the absolute best diet… and best foods, within your budget.

All dog food is not equal in their nutritional values and there are many that are downright detrimental to your pet's health.

I have put together all the research that I and my team have carried out over the last 11 and a half months on dog food and health, into one big collection.

Reserve Your Copy Today

Some of the information revealed will shock you! The books and audios cover everything that you need to know about providing the best and most nutritionally healthy diet for your dog. You will quickly start to become a dog nutrition expert… learning how to make nutritional adjustments to help most of your dog's problems or maladies.

Continued - Click for more information, plus BONUSES....

Pets Do the Cutest Things

Dog, Cat and Rat

This is too cute to pass up! –Kim

What is a Responsible Breeder?

Here's a great article that I thought I would pass on...hope you find it interesting! –Kim

...and What are "Puppy Mills" and "Backyard Breeders"?
By Shirley Patterson, Secretary of the YTCA

A puppy mill is a mass dog breeding establishment that produces puppies for profit by selling them wholesale to the pet industry. Many puppy mills are characterized by overcrowding, filth, inadequate shelter, and insufficient food, water, and veterinary care. Most puppy mill owners sell their dogs wholesale to brokers, who in turn, sell them primarily to pet stores. Because profit, not quality dogs, is the ultimate goal of the puppy mill owner, breeding practices are often shoddy, and the breeding dogs are kept under the most inexpensive possible conditions that will keep them alive and producing.

In contrast, there are hundreds of responsible and reputable kennels and breeding establishments throughout the country whose owners make a profit, but not at the expense of their dogs. Whether these breeders are full-time professionals making an entire living from a kennel, or hobby breeders with 5 or 10 animals, the responsible breeder is as concerned with improving the quality of the breed, by showing or belonging to a breed club, than he or she is at making money. Customers wishing to buy puppies from these breeders are welcome to inspect the premises and in most cases, to meet the puppies parents.

In between the puppy mill operators and the responsible kennel owners are the so-called "backyard breeders" whose newspaper ads dot Sunday papers each week. These are people who own one or two purebred dogs and produce a litter of puppies once a year or so for extra money or "because I want my dog to have the experience of being a mother before I get her spayed or Aunt Tillie would like to have a puppy just like my mine." Like puppy mill puppies these animals are often haphazardly bred with no regard to the consequences and their offspring will most often suffer the same consequences.

As secretary for the YTCA I answer an enormous amount of calls each day. I spend at least half the day conversing with many first time pet buyers who seek to have guidance in finding a healthy pet and also the best breed for their individual life style. I also talk to many individuals who have already purchased a pet and are now experiencing problems be it minor (e.g., "Why are my Yorkies ears not standing up?") to more serious health problems and what to do about them since now there is no one interested or concerned enough about the puppy to answer these questions.

A Responsible breeder will give each puppy the socialization that it needs and this requires a great deal of devotion and patience. They are responsible for each puppy that they have bred. (The puppies new owner will reap these benefits.) Their dogs are their number one concern as they are completely dependent on them for their care, training and medical attention. Their dogs are "special" to them.

My own personal feeling is "If you are making money in dogs, you are either over-breeding or your dogs are not receiving the proper medical attention that they so deserve."

Source: Yorkshire Terrier Club of America

PETA Becomes a Corporate Animal

Here's a great article that I thought I would pass on...hope you find it interesting! –Kim

Plethoric Conflicts and Double Standards
by Rowan Scarborough, Human Events
10/05/2009

Americans know People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) for its wild publicity stunts in the name of protecting cows, chickens, and other eatables.

But a closer look at media-savvy PETA shows it also has become a corporate animal.

Its Web sites are full of invitations to corporate America to form partnerships, and in the process, cut PETA in on some of the profits. How else has the Washington-based group grown to a $34 million budget and displayed help-wanted ads for more employees in the time of a deep recession?

In one case, PETA castigates a credit card company for backing a circus; yet PETA promotes its competitor who sponsors horse racing and beef eating – two PETA no-nos it is supposedly trying to abolish.

PETA now operates a "Business Friends" program. For $500 (Silver), $1,000 (Gold) and $5,000-plus (Platinum), PETA grants access to its members and their money.

"PETA Business Friends is an innovative partnership for compassionate companies willing to assist in PETA's groundbreaking work to stop animal abuse and suffering," the Web site says.

Platinum members include what one might expect for a group that promotes a vegetarian, or more austere, vegan lifestyle. There is Harbor Candy Shop, which makes vegan candies and kicks back 20% of proceeds to PETA. And there is MooShoes Inc., which sells animal-free footwear.

Also on the list is VISA, the giant credit card company. The two boast a special relationship. There is the PETA VISA card, featuring a photo of a pig. Purchases on this card result in a 1% royalty to PETA. It urges customers to shop at its own mall, where vendors return even more profits to PETA on each sale.

The VISA-PETA alliance makes odd bedfellows. For one, VISA is a prime sponsor of the Kentucky Derby, the world's most famous horse race.

Yet PETA wants to end thoroughbred racing. A PETA "fact sheet" states: "Help phase out this exploitative 'sport': Refuse to patronize existing tracks, work to ensure that racing regulations are reformed and enforced, lobby against the construction of new tracks, and educate your friends and family members about the tragic lives that racehorses lead."

After the filly Eight Belles collapse and died in finishing the 2008 Kentucky Derby, PETA launched a series of press statements and blogs complaining about the derby and horse racing in general. But there was no criticism of VISA.

VISA also has a relationship with Omaha Steaks. VISA offers a whopping 68% discount when you use the card to buy a mail-order sampler box. In other words, VISA is trying to entice people to begin eating prime beef.

Just this week, PETA's vice president spoke at the University of Pennsylvania on the evils of meat eating.

A PETA press statement said, "At a forum at the University of Pennsylvania on Tuesday, PETA Vice President Bruce Friedrich will describe the horrifying abuse that animals face when they're raised and killed for food. Friedrich will also discuss the massive environmental devastation caused by meat production as he makes the case for a vegan diet."

PETA's current major campaign is to pressure the Canadian government to end an annual seal hunt during which the animals are bludgeoned to death. PETA's tactic is to urge the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee "to use its clout to help stop the Canadian seal slaughter."

A favorite PETA tactic is to call for a boycott. But it has not urged one for the 2010 winter Olympic sponsors, a major one of which is VISA.

The Washington PETA office did not respond to questions from HUMAN EVENTS.

PETA has gone after VISA's major competitor, MasterCard, on the sponsorship issue. PETA uncovered the abuse of elephants by the Ringling Brothers Circus. Using the phrase "NastyCard," it launched a national campaign in 2003 to force the company to cut ties with Ringling, which it ultimately did.

Corporate partner VISA promotes horse racing and beef, yet is immune from such PETA campaigns.

"I think what they were doing was trying to shake down MasterCard," said Steven Milloy, publisher of JunkScience.com. "Where do we start with PETA. I mean, PETA destroys how many animals every year. PETA kills way more animals than the circus. Circus employs animals and probably treats them very well ... They're in bed with VISA, not MasterCard."

The Web site PetaKillsAnimals.com reports that PETA killed 95% of the dogs and cats in its care in 2008 at a Virginia shelter, according to the group's report to the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

"Since 1998, PETA has opted to 'put down' 21,339 adoptable dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens instead of finding homes for them," the Web site says. In 2007, PETA took in 2,225 animals and killed 1,911. It said shelters in the area have a much better record of finding homes for pets, and notes it is less costly to kill a dog or cat than to foster it.

---

Update: PETA responded to Rowan Scarborough's inquiry. On 29 September, at 6:45 pm, a PETA spokesman e-mailed Mr. Scarborough saying, "We are an equal opportunity critic: VISA ended its partnership with Ringling Bros. many years ago after we wrote to the company, and we were pleased that MasterCard followed suit in 2004 after learning that Ringling beats elephants and chains them around the clock. We encourage all companies to make more responsible decisions by not sponsoring or supporting animal abuse."

However, PETA's "response" is unresponsive to the story's reports that PETA has special corporate relationships with one company that is involved in things such as horseracing and selling meat for human consumption both of which PETA considers "animal abuse" and wishes to abolish.

For example: VISA sponsors horseracing. PETA has called for an end to horseracing.

Mr. Scarborough's question stands: Why does PETA refrain from campaigning against VISA if not because of its financial relationship with the credit card company, as it did against Master Card for sponsoring a circus in which PETA said animals were abused?

Source: http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=33822
Copyright ©2009 HUMAN EVENTS

---

Also, see: "Ethical Treatment" of Animals???

How to Litterbox Train Your Dog

Valuable Resource...

How to Have Quick and Easy Dog Litterbox Training Success with Virtually No Risk...

...Using the Same Proven Methods that Thousands of People Worldwide Have Used to Relieve Their Indoor Puppy Housetraining, Dog Housebreaking, Puppy Potty Training, Dog Potty Training or Dog Housetraining Problems!

Amazing Step-by-Step LITTERBOX DOG PUPPY HOUSETRAINING – Awesome Indoor Dog Housetraining or Housebreaking manual is unlike anything you've ever seen. This incredible resource is not available in bookstores, in petstores or anywhere else.... Even a Child Can Do It!

YOU, YES, YOU!...

Can Experience All the Amazing Benefits of My Stress-Free Dog Litterbox Training without Sacrificing All Your Time to Do It!

• It works for any dog, any age or breed.
• It saves you TIME, effort, energy and money!
• Your dog will be able to potty indoors or outdoors upon completion!
• You will have no more ruined carpet or furniture!
• No more stress from potty mess or smell!
• No more going out in snow, rain or terrible heat!
• No more carrying in dirt or mud worries.
• No more dashing home to let dog outside to potty!
• No more need for midnight potty walks.
• Perfect for condo, apartment or RV dwellers!
• No need to schedule days or weeks for training!

100% Guaranteed!!

What is your reason for wanting the luxury of a dog litterbox training system that works without having to give up precious days or weeks of your life to do it?

• Are you planning on getting a dog or own a puppy and want the luxury of them being able to go potty when they need wherever they are??
• Do you live in an apartment, condo or mobile home?
• Do you own an older dog with special needs?
• Do you want to protect your dog from bad weather?
• Are you physically unable to take your dog outdoors?
• Have you lost sleep due to midnight potty trips?
• Do you miss activities you love due to not being able to leave puppy home alone too long?
• Have you tried dog litterbox training, failed and need a method that works?
• Do you need a dog litterbox training method that works FAST with little effort from you?

Continued - Click for more information, plus some BONUSES....

"I've been Doing Rescue Since I was 3 Yrs. Old"

Here's a great story that I thought I would pass on...hope you find it inspiring! –Kim

Saved By Grace

Knock on Grace Acosta's door at her home in Miami, and you are likely to get a friendly greeting from a medley of canines. Five pooches are rescue mixes, one is a Rottweiler rescue, and six are Rottweilers from her own breeding.

Nearly every dog that goes into the Gulfstream Guardian Angel Rottweiler Rescue makes a stop at Grace's home. "We have very few foster homes," explains the assistant high school principal. "It hurts the rescue group because we end up paying boarding fees at a veterinary clinic."

Growing Up Rescuing Dogs

Grace's love for dogs and her desire to rescue homeless ones started early. "I've been involved in rescue since I was 3 years old," she says. "My first dog was a mix, a mutt that was roaming the streets of my neighborhood."

When she was a teenager, Grace and her family came to the United States from Cuba. She remembers telling her father she was not leaving without her three dogs. "I had rescued them from the streets," she says. "When we arrived in Miami, my dogs came with me."

Many years later, she fell in love with Rottweilers and became a breeder. In 1986, Grace joined other people who breed, show and love Rottweilers to form the Gulfstream Rottweiler Club. Since then, the club has grown to over 100 members.

Grace's love for the breed and dogs in general prompted her to start taking in Rottweilers that needed homes. As president of Gulfstream Rottweiler Club, she encouraged other members to do the same. Over time the club's rescue efforts grew until they formed a separate organization dedicated solely to Rottweiler rescue.

In 2002, Gulfstream Guardian Angel Rottweiler Rescue (GGARR) became a recognized nonprofit organization. Between July and December 2004, the group helped place more than 70 Rottweilers and Rottie mixes.

The majority of dogs placed by GGARR are strays, and others come from the Miami-Dade County Animal Shelter. "I have a very good rapport with the Miami-Dade County Animal Services," Grace says. "When they have a Rottweiler that is going to be put down because no one is adopting the dog, they call me. If an owner calls asking for help in rehoming their dog, we offer help, too. The dog must be neutered and spayed before we place his or her picture on our Web site and on Petfinder.com. We have found homes for over 100 dogs that were owner surrendered."

Twenty Years & Counting

Her involvement doesn't stop there. Besides taking in virtually every dog that goes into GGARR – at least for a short period – Grace works personally behind the scenes to make sure a rescued dog has the best possible chance to be placed in a loving home. She has many stories of rescue dogs from the 20 years she has been working in Rottweiler rescue.

GGARR has two veterinary clinics that it works with extensively, both of which offer their services, including boarding, at a discount. But the costs are still high, which means that Grace may have as many as six or seven rescue dogs temporarily in her home at one time.

Grace suspects that people's biggest fear about fostering rescue dogs is that they will end up with the dog. The concern is unfounded: Every purebred Rottweiler taken in by GGARR has been placed in a permanent home.

Mixed breeds aren't as lucky though. The organization works hard to place mixed-breed dogs, although they are much more difficult to home. Many people who adopt through GGARR are familiar with the breed; they like everything about the breed, from temperament to looks, she says.

Temporary homes for rescued dogs are one of GGARR's top needs, but as Grace says, rescue involves more than "housing" a dog. Helping transport dogs is a need that is filled by the Rottweiler Rescue Railroad, a network of volunteers from rescue organizations around the country working together to get Rottweilers to their new homes.

In addition, transportation is needed for dogs from the shelter to a veterinary clinic or foster homes. Donations are also valuable to GGARR. In addition to money, donations of food, medicine, blankets, beds, crates, bowls and other dog supplies help keep the dogs in foster homes until permanent homes can be found.

A large number of club members volunteer their time helping to make phone calls and organize the Canine Oktoberfest and silent auction events put on by the organization each year. Most of the money raised by the rescue group is through these annual events. The Oktoberfest is held in Broward County and has been running for 11 years. The silent auction is held in conjunction with the breed club's back-to-back specialty shows in December.

If You Don't Rescue

As a breeder of Rottweilers, Grace's dogs compete in conformation and obedience, and some are therapy dogs. She also is licensed by the American Kennel Club to judge the breed. She strongly believes that all breeders should rescue and the mantra "If you don't rescue, don't breed" is on both her and the Gulfstream Rottweiler Club's Web sites.

"We place the blame for so many homeless animals on irresponsible owners," Grace says. "I think it's important for breeders to make sure dogs end up with responsible and loving owners. Should circumstances ever change, breeders should be willing to take back their dogs."

Beyond this, Grace encourages people to not only be accountable for dogs from their own breeding, but for the breed and dogs in general. All of the work and emotional strain can take its toll, and every so often Grace feels overwhelmed and wants to quit.

Inevitably within a day or two, she'll get a call about a couple of dogs that need homes or they'll be euthanized. Knowing that with her help and the help of the rescue organization, one more dog will live and potentially go to a good home keeps her going. Grace recognizes that doing rescue work isn't for everyone.

"It's a calling," she says, adding "I just wish more people were called!"

Source: Rally to Rescue^® Magazine
http://www.rallytorescue.org/articles/article.aspx?articleId=101

Treating Paw Pad Injuries

Here's a great article that I thought I would pass on...hope you find it interesting! –Kim

Give Your Dog's Paw Pads Some Thought

If you've never given your dog's paw pads much thought, you should! Pads are the thick, spongy, rubbery part of your dog's paw. Dogs rely on their paw pads to absorb shock, make traction with the surface on which they're walking (or running, sliding, slipping, etc.), insulate their paws from extreme temperatures, and to protect them from whatever is underfoot. Watch your dog's paws when you take him out for a walk or a play session, and you'll realize how much punishment his pads take on a daily basis.

With ground contact occurring every step of a dog's life, paw pads must be a tough and resilient part of his body. But, tough as they are, paw pads are not made of armor. That's why it's not uncommon for vets to find dogs with paw pad injuries coming into the doctor's office for emergency care.

Typical paw pad injuries

Common paw pad injuries include lacerations, punctures and abrasions. If a dog steps on glass or other sharp objects, even the toughest paw pad can get cut. Paw pads can also be injured by extreme temperatures, and it's not unknown for dogs to experience burned paw pads on very hot days or frostbite on very cold days. In addition, paw pads can be hurt by chemical spills on the ground.

How to tell if your dog has a paw pad injury

If you've personally seen your dog step into a chemical or tread on glass or an extremely hot surface, you'll probably know almost immediately if he has injured his paw pads. However, injuries may not always be witnessed firsthand, and sometimes the symptoms occur a short time after the actual injury taken place.

Symptoms of paw pad injuries include bleeding, limping, excessive licking of the pad, discoloration, and reluctance on your dog's part to put weight on his paw.

What to do if your dog injures a paw pad

Treatment depends on the type of injury sustained. Here are a few first aid tips:

Cleaning the wound – First, determine if there is any debris, such as glass, in the wound. If there is, remove it. Washing the injured paw is a good idea, if clean water is available. Swishing the paw in the water could help to dislodge any small pieces of debris that might still be in the injury.

Stop the bleeding – Once the paw has been cleaned, apply pressure on the paw pad with a bandage or other clean and absorbent material. Try to maintain some pressure on the wound until the bleeding stops. If the cut is small, the bleeding may stop quickly. However, if the cut is very deep, you may not be able to stop the bleeding on your own – and a trip to the veterinarian's office for expert care will be necessary.

Soothing burns – If you've ever attempted to walk barefoot on a sun-bathed sidewalk in the summer, you know how scorching it can be. Even though paw pads are tough, they can still burn. You can help soothe the burn with an icepack or the cool, gentle running water of a garden hose or faucet. If your dog steps into a harsh chemical, immediately flush the entire paw with cool water. Keep the water running until all traces of the chemical are washed away.

Next stop: the Vet's office

Your dog's paws are difficult-to-heal areas of his body. That's why even less-severe injuries could require a visit to the vet's office. Many paw pad injuries require proper cleaning and bandaging – and some may need more intensive care. Your vet will also tell you how to properly care for the treated injury at home during the time it takes the paw to heal.

An ounce of prevention

To help prevent paw pad injuries, inspect areas where your dog will be playing. Remove all sharp debris and wash away chemical spills. In the summer, try to keep your dog from walking on extremely hot surfaces – grass and earth are almost always cooler and more inviting to walk on under the summer sun. In the winter, use doggie booties on smaller dogs to prevent frostbite. And when taking your dog out for a walk, watch the ground in front of your dog to avoid any dangerous surprises.

Source: http://www.pedigree.com/02All-Things-Dog/Article-Library/fetch.aspx?artId=741&catId=3&sCatId=14&catName=Adult&sCatName=First%20Aid%20and%20Safety
© 2009 Mars, Incorporated and Affiliates