I noticed on monday that my boy (3 1/2 years) has a crack along one of his pads, and it looks like part of the pad has been sore but has healed over... he has had a habit of licking his feet whenever he gets them wet, no matter how often we try and discourage it.... I'm assuming the pad is fine now (no open sores or redness etc) but I was wondering if there was something I could do to ease his need to lick his feet?? On closer inspection, you can see where he's licked so much his toes look like they've got eczma in places!!! Would wiping or bathing his feet in tea tree oil or witch hazel help??

I don't think it's an allergy, it's just whenever his feet get wet, which in this country can be quite a lot!! He exercises mostly on grass, I'm hoping that when we organise a paved/concreted dog run it may help him, but am not sure...

any thoughts?? 

DO not use witch hazel. Will sting like a &*^£!
Salt water to clean it and dry the paw well. The moisture from licking/not drying area properly could cause skin infection

will see if I can break the cycle by bathing his feet in salt water then.... now we're (hopefully) coming in to summer it should ease up (fingers crossed)

anyone wanna give me a hand with him?? He's a 50kg dog and hates his feet being touched - LOL

50KG dog!!! I'll shout encouragement from here! Im stuffed with 12.1KG's

I know someone that swears by Quistel for wet excema and sore paws for her newf. He's 80Kg but doesn't mind the Quistel

Try Colloidal Silver and dog booties, although they'd probably be ripped off in seconds. 

Try salt water in a mixing bowl dog laying down on side relaxing do each one in turn ,dunk in bowl ! dry pads..... then Vaseline.
Do it after walk so dog ready to relax ...well hopefully

There is a product called Unction, which I ahve used. Bouhgt it from local pet shop on a recommendation, fantastic at sore feet. made by a company called listerine - and it's amazingly cheap.

if it is wet exema then try cornflour. I have used it twice with great success. Saw it years ago in Dog World as an Olde time cure, def works.

oooh thanks for all suggestions!!

I have some colloidal silver....and some corn flour...and some vaseline..!!!

wish me luck

> DO not use witch hazel. Will sting like a &*^£!
>

I have used witch hazel on open wounds (my own) and never foudn ti to sting.  are you confusing with surgical spirit?  It is a great for stopping bleeding.