Blister On Dog’s Paws: Causes and Treatment

Once in our lifetime, we all have regretted the moment we pushed ourselves a little far while starting our fitness journey. Ergo, we get highly exhausted, have muscle pain, and even get Blisters on the Feet.

Not only you but even your dog can get a blister on dog paws. And these are not limited to minor fluid-filled Blisters but can also get dog paw blood blisters. The reason for this could be an injury or something else.

Dog’s paws are a very crucial part of their body. From standing, walking, jumping, and running, these paws serves dogs in everything. Therefore, they will most likely get harmed and have blisters. As a pup’s parent, you should inspect your puppy’s footpads every few days. Cleaning them and checking for blisters is a regular inspection routine. Even if you are not examining, a change in your dog’s walk will depict that there is something wrong with their feet.

Unluckily, if your dog has blistered paw pads, you should be aware of the causes and treatment. Additionally, you must understand when the situation is considered too severe to take your dog to the Vet.

What does Dog Blister look like?

The blister formation is quite an interesting phenomenon. When the uppermost layer of a dog’s skin separates from the deeper layers, it forms a hollow space, which the body fills by pouring out some liquids.

Vets consider a skin lesion to be a dog paw blister if it is filled with some clear liquid or serum. This clear liquid is filled with white blood cells.

Sometimes, instead of serum, Blisters are filled with pus. These blisters are called Pustules. These Pus-filled blisters mainly constitute dead tissues, cellular debris, and WBCs too.

Due to friction, these blisters can burst and cause infection, inflammation, or ulcers-the empty skin craters.

What causes dog paw blisters?

The primary reason for a blister on dog’s paw pad is FRICTION. When the dog moves its feet on the ground, friction and heat are produced. It results in the formation of blisters. These blisters are more likely to occur when a dog moves more on rough surfaces like gravel, pavement, etc.

Common reasons for sores on dogs’ paws:

Due to Allergies

Due to seasonal or even food allergies, dogs continuously lick their paws. This continuous licking habit can cause blisters and infections too. Therefore, it’s crucial to take extra care of dogs during allergic seasons and continuously check if they are not allergic to some food item.

Injuries

Dog feet injury sometimes causes blood blisters on dog paws. The damage is usually caused by some sharp objects that, in turn, form blood blisters. These are the excruciating types of blisters.

Rough Surface

Rough surfaces like rocks, hiking trails, cracks on the road, gravel roads, and construction sites can cause blisters on dogs’ paws. So, ensure the surface is clean and decent to step on for your dog before dragging them over a walk.

Extreme Training

Dog parents sometimes become too extreme with the training, and even the dog performs beyond its limits to impress its owner. In such cases, dogs can get blisters.
If you are also a pooch parent, you have to understand your dog’s limits and don’t overdo the training.

Skin Irritations

Especially in winter, roads are covered with chemicals and salted roads. In such conditions, when you take your dog outside, your dog might develop blisters due to these chemicals. So when you are back home, make sure to clean your dog’s paws in such a scenario.

Hot Surface

Unlike you, dogs don’t wear shoes and can feel the heat or even harm from walking on hot roads in the summers. The blister is just the minor damage that a dog pays while walking on a hot surface. In extreme cases, dogs can also get heatstroke. So make sure to check the surface temperature before taking your dog outside.

Cysts

Cysts are different from that from blisters. One should know the difference between them and don’t mistake one for another.

How do you treat a blister on a dog’s paw?

You can treat your blisters on dog paws at home. You just need a basic first aid kit and follow the following steps:

Clean

To avoid infections, you should first clean the blistered paw. Take warm water and gently pour it on your dog’s paw. After this, use antibacterial soap to wash the dog’s foot for proper cleaning.

Secure

Once you have cleaned the paws, the next step is to use the bandage to wrap the wound. This step will also help in avoiding the infection.

Prevent

Make sure your dog doesn’t walk on rough or hot surfaces for faster healing. It’s better if your dog takes an adequate amount of rest.

Caution

During healing, your dog can feel the urge to lick its paws. It would be best if you stop it from doing that as it can not only cause infection, but your dog can get more blisters because of this.

Pain Relief

You can apply the Paw soother on the inflamed area for pain relief and prevent infection.

How long do dog blisters take to heal?

On average, blisters can take 2 to 3 weeks to heal that, too, if you follow the proper treatment procedure. If the infection proceeds, talk to your dog’s Vet.

When Should I Call the Vet?

If the Blisters seem minor, you must try the above-mentioned home treatment for blisters on the dog’s paws. However, there can be scenarios where only a specialist can help. Here is the list of cases where you should take your dog to the Vet:

• Suppose you are confused about whether it is a blister or cyst on your dog’s paw. It’s best to consult a vet instead of blind aiming. Since if it’s a Cyst, mild blister treatment won’t work for it.
• If your dog has a fever, blisters have a red texture, and the pus is secreting out from the blister, it is possibly due to infection in the blisters. Infected Blisters can be harmful and require an expert’s assistance.
• Not just paws; if blisters are on other parts of the body, the reason for blisters can be more serious. Please take it to the Vet as early as possible to find the cause and work on its treatment.
• It’s essential to check for Improvement from Time to Time. Even after the treatment, if the blisters show no sign of healing, it’s better not to rely on home treatment and take your dog to the Vet.

Things to Keep in Mind to Prevent Blisters

The most common saying, Prevention is Better than Cure, turns out to be quite correct here. Instead of waiting for the Time when your dog paw’s blisters become too painful for it even to move, it would be nice if you follow the below-mentioned precautions;

• Instead of even weekly, regular self-checking is the most suitable. Remove debris from the dog’s paws, if present, and check for any bleeding, redness, etc. It won’t let blister formation and helps detect the initial stages.
• Good Hygiene is the remedy to so many health problems, and Blisters are one of them. If you clean your dog’s feet whenever it comes back from outside, it will help prevent several foot issues like Blisters.
• Don’t let your dog walk on a too hot or too cold surface. Salted roads in winter are also the reason for dog blisters. You can choose grass instead for strolling with your dog.
• Many moistures and paw balms lower the chances of foot ailments like blisters by reducing the friction caused between the dog’s paws and the road. These balms are also helpful in the healing of blisters.
• You can also purchase good-quality dog boots for your puppy. Just make sure the shoes are of the correct size and comfortable for your dog to wear. These boots are beneficial for trekking and regular days walking too. If that’s not ensured, boots can also cause blisters to your dog.