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by Tina Knight
One aspect of caring for your pets that some people may not consider is proper care of the feet. It is very important to know how to care for your pet’s feet, as any inattention to a foot problem can potentially lead to more serious health issues requiring extensive vet care. By paying close attention to your pet’s feet and doing some basic grooming in that area, you can potentially save yourself a major vet bill. This article breaks down into three pet-type categories: dogs and cats, birds and small pets and, horses and livestock.
Dogs and cats
Many dogs and cats don’t like having their feet messed with, but it is necessary to examine their feet regularly and to trim their nails regularly. Therefore, it is important to get your pet used to their feet being touched. This can be accomplished by gently touching and playing with their feet on a daily basis from a very young age. Nails should always be kept trimmed short. If you can hear a “clicking” noise when your dog or cat walks across a bare floor, their nails are too long. Before trimming your pet’s nails, be sure you have a good pair of nail trimmers, some styptic powder or cornstarch and a muzzle if needed. The nails should be trimmed back to where the nail starts to curve.
Be careful to avoid cutting the “quick”, which is the soft part of the inner nail that contains blood vessels and nerve endings. In pets with white nails, you can usually see the quick through the nail. In pets with dark nails, it is impossible to see; therefore, more caution should be used. It is better to leave the nail a little long and avoid cutting the quick than to go too short and cut it. If the quick is cut, it will bleed and is very painful for the pet. If you do accidentally cut the quick so that it bleeds, dip the nail in styptic powder or cornstarch and don’t allow the pet to walk on it until the bleeding stops. If it continues to bleed, apply more styptic powder or cornstarch and apply pressure. If you are not comfortable performing the procedure, ask your veterinarian or a groomer to show you the proper technique. If you still are not comfortable doing it, you can take your pet to your vet’s office or to a qualified grooming shop for a nail trim at a minimal charge. Nails typically should be trimmed on a monthly basis.
The other parts of the foot to pay close attention to are the pads. You should check the pads periodically for cuts or foreign bodies. If any cuts are found, wash the area with warm water using a mild soap, apply an antibiotic ointment and wrap the paw with gauze. Any foreign bodies should be removed immediately and an antibiotic ointment applied if necessary. Once a cut or foreign body has been discovered, treat the area at least twice a day until it is healed. Even a small cut on the paw can lead to a major infection if left untreated.
Birds and small pets
Whether you have a bird or a small pet such as a guinea pig, rabbit or ferret, it is important to keep their nails trimmed. In birds, long nails can make it difficult for them to perch. There is also a danger of them getting their nails snagged in things such as carpeting or clothing. When trimming your bird’s nails, you may want to wrap them in a towel to subdue them. Trim only the tip of the nail, using either bird nail trimmers or human nail clippers. If the bird becomes stressed, trim a couple nails per day to reduce the stress. The use of rough-surface perches, in addition to wooden perches, can reduce the number of times you need to trim your bird’s nails.
With other small animals, it is also important to keep their nails trimmed short to prevent them from snagging on rough surfaces and to prevent scratching their owners. With ferrets, you can place them on their back on your lap, in a position where they are able to lick their belly. Put a small amount of Ferretone (available at pet stores that sell ferret supplies) on their abdomen and cut their nails while they are licking it off. Most ferrets will be so interested in the Ferretone, they won’t even know you’re cutting their nails. Care should be taken when cutting rabbit nails. If they struggle too much, they can actually break their back. Wrap them in a towel and have another person hold the rabbit securely while you trim the tip of the nail. Some rabbits can be put to “sleep” by laying them on their back in your lap and rubbing their belly until they are asleep. You can then cut their nails. With guinea pigs and other very small pets, wrap them in a towel and cut the tip of the nail. It isn’t always easy doing a nail trim on birds or small animals, but it is vital to their overall grooming and health. If unable to do it yourself, consult your veterinarian.
Horses and livestock
Hooves that are not properly cared for can cause lameness and/or infections of the hoof. Horse hooves should be cleaned regularly using a hoof pick. Keeping the hooves clean will help prevent infections such as thrush and canker. Horse owners should have a professional farrier trim the horse’s hooves every six to eight weeks. Working horses or horses that spend a lot of time on hard ground should be shod. Some horses with certain hoof problems may also need to be shod. Consult your farrier or veterinarian if you’re not sure your horse should be shod.
Livestock such as goats, llamas and alpacas generally are able to keep their hooves trimmed just from walking on the ground or any hard surface, but they should be checked periodically to make sure the hooves haven’t gotten too long. If any lameness is noticed, consult your veterinarian immediately. Your veterinarian can also show you the proper technique for trimming the hooves.
By taking the time to care properly for your pet’s feet, you can help prevent many serious problems later. For more information, visit the ASPCA (http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/dog-care-nail-care.aspx).
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