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How Long Does a Dog Paw Pad Injury Take to Heal? (Answered)

If our furry buddies start whimpering, licking their paw pad, and limping on one foot, we get extremely anxious. What if it’s a devastating injury? Unable to talk, they make us extremely worried about their unusual behavior.

Often the injuries are not as severe as we think they might be.

However, we want to see our beloved pets running and playing instead of limping on one foot as soon as possible. So, here rises a question. How long does it take for our furry buddies to heal from a paw pad injury? Luckily, here you can find the answer to your concern.

How long does a dog paw pad injury take to heal?

Usually, it takes from 10 to 21 days for a paw pad injury to heal, depending on the type of the wound. However, in case of severe injuries, it may take up to 3 months to heal. It solely depends on the severity of the wound. Paw pads shall be treated with special care in order to heal fast.

It also depends on other factors such as the treatment provided and also the condition of the infection. Paw pad injuries take longer to heal than skin hence greater care needs to be provided.

As we know paw pad attracts plenty of germs and shall be kept clean at all times. If not remained clean the wound might get infected.

Infection increases the healing period and also causes more suffering to your furry buddy. The injuries can be blisters, tears, burns, punctures, abrasions, etc.

The healing time mainly depends on which one of these injuries your pet has been exposed to. However, it is highly discouraged to take any injury lightly as it might be causing them a great deal of pain.

The same level of attention and care should be given to any sort of injury for the healing process to excel.

Will a dog’s pad heal on its own?

In most cases, a dog’s pad injury does not heal on its own. However, it can heal in case of cracked paws or slight injury caused to the outer part of the pad. The dog’s paw pads are the most difficult places to heal, one of the reasons being its direct exposure to germs.

They are stubborn in terms of healing which is why even minor injuries in that area require a visit to the vet. Chances are very low for the paw pad injury to heal on its own as it requires to be kept clean at all times and also bandaging in cases of severe injuries.

But, when it comes to cracks simple techniques such as keeping the paw pad clean and dry at a time shall do the work of healing the paw pad on its own.

It is recommended to not wait for the paw pads to heal on their own as it might be a little more serious than that. It’s always the safest option to consult your vet.

Do I need to take my dog to the vet for a torn/injured paw pad?

If the bleeding does not stop within 10 minutes or if there are symptoms of infections the dog needs to be taken to the vet. If it takes longer than 2-3 days for the injury to heal, consult your vet.

In case of minor injuries, it is not necessary to take your pet to the vet. If the bleeding stops and there is no puss or foul smell it is safe to treat the wound at home.

At times, it is not possible to understand the severity of a wound just by a look at the wound. It is always better to consult your vet as a delay might result in an infection.

If it is a minor injury and your pet can walk almost properly, it is possible to treat the wound at home by keeping it clean and dry.

How do you treat a torn/injured footpad on a dog?

There are certain tips that you can follow to treat the injured paw pad at home. Below provide is each step in detail for you to take care of your furry buddy.

It is always advised to consult your vet before applying any sort of medicine.

Cleaning:

The first step would be cleaning the wound properly with cold water to get rid of the germs. If particles are stuck to the paw pad, use tweezers to remove them and again clean the wound thoroughly and dry it.

Applying some ointment:

To prevent your fur buddy from getting exposed to infection, apply an antiseptic ointment after consulting your vet. 

The ointment will speed up the healing process, dry the wound and also reduce any possibilities of infection. But, do make sure to consult your vet before applying any ointment.

Bandaging:

Apply a bandage on the wound and keep changing the bandage frequently. It is important to prevent your dog from licking the wound so a bandage is essential. If your pet is reluctant to keep the bandage, you can make them wear a plastic cone.

Will dogs torn paw pads grow back?

Yes, the dog’s torn paw pads do grow back, but it requires a long time such as 2-3 months for the torn paw pads to grow back.

The new skin will take time to grow and meanwhile, the paw pads will be fragile and they should wear some type of sock to let the healing process take place.

Can I put Vaseline on my dog’s injured paws?

Depends on the type of injury whether you can put Vaseline on your dog’s injured paws or not. If any ointment is being used, it is not advised to use Vaseline along with the ointment.

Vaseline has been proven to be a great moisturizer and protector for your canine friend’s paws. If the injury is slight, you can use Vaseline on your pet’s paws as Vaseline itself has healing abilities.

Final thoughts

To sum up, in order to have your furry buddy’s paw pad injury heal faster great care should be taken along with following the instructions provided for the treatment of the injury. It can usually take up to 3 weeks to heal but the correct treatment can heal the injury within just 10 days.