Paw & Pad Protection

As the saying goes, "where birds live, a bird dog's nose will surely follow." And follow they will into some of the nastiest environments this country can provide. Each geographic location poses it's own unique set of variables. Gulf coast marshes are littered with sharp cat n' nine tails and razor blade grass. The upper midwest has forest floors covered in both frigid snow and prickly pine cones. The harshness of a west Texas hunt are omnipresent where everything bites, scratches, stabs, poisons, or cuts(some all at the same time). A day spent hunting chukar on the walls of Hell's Canyon, Idaho will leave you and your dog bloody, sore, and dead tired. As hunters we outfit ourselves with serious leather footwear and chaps to help stymie the cacti, thorns, and other such nasty items we will trample upon during the course of a hunt. But what about our four pawed hunting companion? He doesn't have the luxury of flipping through a Cabela's catalog and mail ordering a new pair of his own hunting boots. It is up to us to furnish them with the best possible solution to their paw protecting problem. There is nothing that can shorten a great hunt then your dog injuring a pad. Even the smallest cut can be painful and stop the hardest headed pointer right in his tracks. Hopefully the following tips and products recommendations will help.

• Workouts in the off season should be in similar cover conditions that you will likely hunt. This will keep his or her pads conditioned and toughened up. Hanging out in the backyard's clean cut grass and tossing the ball around just doesn't cut.


• Give your dog enough Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids in his or her daily diet. These nutrients help the pads stay moisturized(to prevent cracking) as well as help grown new layers of skin to keep them healthy.


• Long walks on pavement and/or sidewalks. This acts is like a fine sandpaper. Over time it helps to toughen the pads up as well as naturally grinding down the toenails.
  

There are hundreds of products on the market to help a dog traverse severe conditions. Manufacturers have gone to great lengths to make "dog booties". My biggest concern is boots may cause dogs to run in an awkward gait. I believe it is possible that they can injure their joints through long term repetition of such unnatural gait changes. In addition, a velcro or strap attached boot could cause a dog to become entangled when hunting thick cover. In a panic this could cause further injury as the dog tries to escape. I believe the only exception to wearing dog booties is if the dog was introduced to them at an early age and/or it is imperative that they wear them to protect against unavoidable and harmful ground cover such as nettles or cacti. Rest assured, for generations there has been other way to help protect a working dogs paws. These two great products have been around for years and for good reason. They have stood up to the very best test...time!

Mushers Secret is not a well known product but it should be! According to their website "Musher's Secret is a dense, barrier wax that forms a breathable bond with your dog's paws. Developed in Canada for use with sledding dogs, it provides tenacious protection even in the most extreme conditions. Made from a blend of several food-grade waxes, then refined according to our our own special formulations, Musher's Secret is the safe, non-toxic way to protect your dog's paws. The semi-permeable shield is absorbed into the paws, allowing perspiration escape through the toes. Musher's Secret is NOT just for the winter! It protects from hot pavement and sand as well as any irritants your pet may walk through. Click on the image for more information or to place an order


Another great product and one I use regularly on my pointer is Nutri-Vet's Sport Pad Guard. It even comes with a 100% guarantee! How many dog products you know of can stand behind that sort of claim? According to their website Sport Pad Guard is "A safe, non-toxic wax that safeguards paws from the effects of gravel, asphalt, sand, hot pavement, ice, snow, salt and chemically treated roads and uneven hard surfaces. Helps heal cracked pads and abrasions. Provides protection for dogs of all ages" Just like all Nutri-Vet products it is made with high quality, natural ingredients such as Mineral Oil, Beeswax, Paraffin Wax, Silica, Orange Essential Oil. Click on the image for more information or to place and order.

Adding a wax barrier to your dog's pads is an asset to his or her ability to hunt in extreme hot or cold conditions. Vision your dog's paws are like a "built in" pair of athletic running shoes. The only problem is they can't replace them if they fail. On a side note to pad protection, keep your dog's nails trimmed tight as possible. In addition to pad cuts, a torn nail can put your gun dog on the injured reserve for weeks. Best to keep the nails as short as possible to avoid tears or breaks. I advise each of you(if not already) to invest in, and use these products. They will keep your four legged partner happy, healthy, and hunting hard!

Best of luck out there. -Mark