This is a question I come across from time to time. It's an excellent question! There are many answers, or should we say perspectives, to it. Since situations vary and dogs are individuals, there is no single correct answer.
Basically, diet is of course the number one thing - it should be diverse and of high-quality. What all should the diet contain and in what proportion is a matter for the professional in the field, so I won't go into that in depth here. However, high-quality fats such as omega-3 have a positive effect on the condition of the skin and therefore also the paws.
Is it enough if the dog has a good diet and gets high-quality omega-3 supplements?
Not necessarily. Some dogs may have this problem. Especially if the dog lives in the country and mainly runs on soft ground, or is a primitive breed.
However, most dogs live in the city and run mainly or partly on asphalt, which can be hot, icy, sanded or salted. In addition, the dog may be hard to pull on a leash or engage in high-speed sports that involve rapid sprints, stops and braking.
Do you remember that feeling when you fell on the asphalt and hurt your knee as a child?
I know. You can't see anything, but it hurts. The same goes for paws. If a dog decides to run wild on the asphalt or gets really excited about a rabbit running by and its paws scratch the surface of the asphalt, no amount of internal oil will help. We can all agree on that. In that case, it would be reasonable to use additional external protection and care so that the skin on the paw worn by the asphalt will soon recover and not unnecessarily disturb or cause pain to the dog.
In short : When jogging on asphalt, most dogs need extra protection and care for their paws. Especially in winter, spring, summer or autumn when it can be icy, dirty, sandy, salted or scorching hot. Especially dogs whose breed has been extensively refined. Especially dogs that actively practice some fast-paced sport, such as pulling sports or agility. And especially older dogs.
Can paw problems or skin symptoms be corrected through diet?
Absolutely, and that's how it should be! However, keep this in mind: changes made through diet are slow to appear, sometimes even months later. I recommend that the dog's symptoms are treated and relieved immediately externally. After that, the diet can be adjusted in peace and quiet and see how it works, and the dog doesn't have to suffer unnecessarily from, for example, reddening between the paws.
Example:
The dog licks its paws and yeast is suspected. The paws are clearly red and obviously sore because the dog is licking them. There has been some bad weather outside recently, which may in itself be the cause, but an allergy is also suspected. The owner decides to start eliminating potential allergy triggers from the diet one by one. It is recommended that one substance be tried for at least a month or two and monitored to see if the symptoms improve. It is decided to remove grain first. After a month, the dog is still licking its paws and sometimes the paws have even become bloody due to the constant licking. The skin is red and looks really sore. Maybe the grain is not the cause… Next, fish is removed.
OR
When the licking is noticed, the owner buys LovePaws organic paw wax for their dog, which is said to soothe irritated skin and protect against moisture. They start to care for the paws by waxing them before a walk so that the moisture and dirt outside cannot react with the irritated skin. After the walk, the paws are washed carefully and waxed again in the evening before going to bed. Apparently, the best treatment results come after washing. The next day, the redness has subsided a little, although the dog still licks his paws a little from time to time. However, he is already more lively. The paws are treated frequently and the suspected allergen is excluded from the diet. It is noticed that if the greasing is stopped, the symptoms flare up again. It is decided to exclude the next suspected allergen.
The dog has occasionally had itching and redness on his paws, but the constant licking has stopped and his paws have generally been in good condition. The dog is his own, happy self! The cause of the symptoms is not yet completely clear, but the matter is being investigated. Eventually, the cause of the allergy will be found. It is noticed that the dog's paws also react sensitively to changes in the weather and the paws are continued to be waxed a couple of times a week, with daily waxing. This way, the symptoms have completely disappeared.
If you were a dog, which one would you choose? 🐾
We recommend treating paws internally through diet and externally, especially for dogs living in urban areas, dogs that actively exercise, and dogs that have problems with their paws or are prone to getting sores on their paws.
LovePaws® paw wax treats and soothes itchy, red and irritated skin. It protects the paws from external stresses such as frost, moisture and wear. Paw wax effectively prevents the formation of cracks and wounds, as well as the onset of rashes or furunculosis symptoms. Most dogs enjoy the joint paw care moment immensely.
Love to Paws!
