Mats

[DawnandTuk-tuk]

I can see a change it Tuk-tuk's coat since he's been on the new food (Nature's Variety). He doesn't itch as much, that's for sure so good news there. Bad news is that he mats and mats and mats. I can brush him and two days later he will start matting. I gave him a bath thinking that might help, but it didn't. It has gotten so bad that we had to stop all moving today to figure out why he was obssessively licking his paw only to discover a mat had rolled between his pads so tightly it took three of us (one to hold him, one to hold open the pads, and one to cut) to get it out. He's limping on the paw now. This is what's prompted me to ask for help. I did a search, but mostly on found stuff on eye mats and stripping. I feel so bad that his paw is hurting him! We have stairs now, and I'm sure that doesn't feel good.

By the way, if anyone has some good suggestions of what I should do for his paw I would love the help. I'm afraid to put Neosporin on it cause he can lick it off, I know he'll chew off any type of wrap/bandage I put on--what can I do?

For the mats, should I change his food? I brush him once a week, but that doesn't seem to be effective anymore. His coat is starting to look weird cause sometimes the mats roll tightly and I have to cut them out (this usually happens cause he 'army crawls' on the carpet and grass making mats worse on his chest especially, but he gets them all over). Am I not brushing enough? I use a bristle brush, combing in both directions, and then a pin head brush doing the same again. Oh, and forget it if I don't get to the brushing right away within the week, then he's a real live mess! Before I could put if off a couple days, or longer-but I didn't usually do that, and he never matted. I've never stripped him, but have done the furminator. Maybe its time to do that again? Our groomer does it for us. But will this stop them from happening again? I'm slightly tempted to take him down there, have her furminate him then clip him so he won't have these uncomfortable mats anymore. Help! I'm open to opinions and suggestions!

[BetsyNoodle]

I actually brush Murphy every single day at bedtime after I brush his teeth. We have made it into a fun bedtime ritual. Murphy currently is dealing with allergies and it has been a challenge. He is very itchy and has been chewing his paws a lot. We are going to a doggie dermatologist next week.

I wish I could help you with your question about Tuk-Tuk's paw. Do you think you might have accidentally nicked it with the scissors? I think he will likely lick off any ointment you apply. Maybe you can wash his paw with a gentle shampoo in warm water and dry it thoroughly. If he continues limping you may want to run this by your vet.

[Idaho Cairns]

That obsessive licking of the paw may not have anything to do with the paw itself or matting between the pads. I have long suspected that the behavior might be related to that particular weakness that some Cairns have with the splayed out knees. Our older dog currently is suffering from a shoulder problem caused by jumping off the deck while chasing a squirrel. Tho the foot is not the problem, she still licks her paw on the effected side.

All our Cairns exhibited this licking at one time or another and close inspection of the paw showed no injury--when hair or foreign matter gets between the pads, the dog uses its teeth to pull at the bothersome spot--now that is an indicator.

I think the licking of the paw is often simply an attempt to sooth other sore spots in joints around the foot that may not have anything to do with the paw itself.

The matting is kind of particular to the dog. We had one with really soft fine hair and she would develop mats of hair under her forelegs and getting them out without cutting was a pain for her and us--she did not like to be combed under her legs at all. I believe that continued use of clippers to trim her hair had caused the loss of her more course outer coat and that only the softer inner coat remained--which matted much easier.

When our dogs get what we suspect is joint pain, we administer aspirin in small dosages and that seems to relieve them somewhat.

[DawnandTuk-tuk]

I'm sure the licking is specific to the mat. As soon as we would stop moving for just a second he would immediately drop to the floor licking the one paw like mad. It was weird. I noticed it right away and suspected allergy licking (he licks his paws from food allergies) but it wasn't both paws and it wasn't a soothing type of thing, it was furious licking. Anyway, after about 4 hrs he started to limp so I sat down and had a look. I could see it was irritated which I expected from all the licking but couldn't see anything else. I almost just left it to come back to it later (we are on a time crunch for the move) but I just so happen to splay his pads just right and caught sight of the mat. It was so far down in that it was hard to see, I suspect it had been there for awhile. He is still licking it today, but not furious like yesterday and his limp is better but still present. I'm worried about infection. He doesn't like me to mess with it, I'm also worried that opening up the pads to look will break open any scab that's there. I thought about washing with soap, but didn't know what to use...I didn't think I should use his shampoo, maybe Dawn dish soap? I only thought of that since I remember back in the day that's what they used on critters to wash them when there was oil spills so I'm guessing it's gentle enough? I know exactly what to do for any of a variety of kid ills/scrapes etc...but for Tuk I'm at a loss. After this move I think my next big project will be to find a good doggie first aid book!

I hadn't considered that I wasn't brushing him enough. All that I had read when I researched the breed suggested that coat maintenance required regular brushing but not like other breeds that neeeded everyday brushing.

[Tracy A.]

Well, I would go ahead and put some neosporn in it. you can pick up 'vet wrap' which is that self stick stretch wrap stuff at any drug store in the band-aid section. Or if you have a Tractor Supply store around they sell the wider rolls in with the Horse stuff. You can put a baby/kid sock on him with the vet wrap holding the sock in place to keep him for licking it anymore with the Neo on the paw. If it continues or gets worse I'd take him to the vet when it opens after the weekend.

I keep a roll of the vet wrap in the house...good on huans too!

[BetsyNoodle]

If you put a baby sock on his foot, you will want to watch him. Someone else's Cairn (on this site) swallowed a sock-like cell phone cover and was able to eventually pass it. Socks are the #1 foreign object swallowed by dogs, according to one vet site. I used to use the wrap Mystic described on my Min Pin when I didn't want him to pull a bandage off. We used Neosporin on our Lab, Gracie, the other day when Murphy, our Cairn toddler aka terrier, accidentally (?) clawed her cheek while they were playing. She healed very nicely.

[beccadiane374]

To prevent the matting, I would suggest brushing Tuk-tuk more frequently. Like BestyNoodle, I brush Tanner (and then his teeth!) every night before bedtime. Every once in awhile, I may miss a night, but he never goes more than one night without being brushed. I find it a great time to check for fleas and/or ticks, as well. Even though I use Frontline Plus, I still like to check him & since he's already getting brushed, we just do it all in one sitting.

[DawnandTuk-tuk]

Just thought I'd let y'll know Tuk's paw is much better! I had to distract him from licking with things to chew on for two days but that really seemed to do the trick. I noticed it right away the next morning his limp was better, but we left to move some stuff and came back a couple hours later and he was limping again. I thought about it, at night he didn't lick his paw, but during the day he was. So I gave him a bully stick, it was the first one we've ever tried. He went nuts over it and set to chewing it straight away! He immediately stopped limping after a couple hours of not licking his paw. So, that was all we did.

I think he started licking his paws after my mom fed him some chicken (his dog food has very minimal chicken in it-its nearly impossible to find a dog food without chicken in it!) a fews day before. He was licking his paws and maybe he somehow started the horrible mat. I also think he's allergic to corn, my mom fed him corn chips two days ago and he's licking his paw (but this could just be left over from the mat still). Really I think my mom needs to stop feeding him from the table! She's a sucker for his song and dance at dinner time (which he only does for her). I guess I'm gonna have to lay down the dinner time law.

[Autumn & Lola]

I'm glad Tuk-Tuk's paw is better. I know dogs often lick obsessively due to boredom or feeling anxious. Maybe in addition to the chicken or corn, he is feeling a bit out of sorts due to the move. He must know there is something going on when he sees things disappearing from the house. He probably created the mat with all the licking.

My husband brushes Molly every other day. He is always tired after his long work day, so this is how he spends time with her and bonds. She won't sit still for me brushing her, but with him she acts like she's at the spa!

[TazTalk]

Hey Dawn,

Yes, I think you need to reprimand your mom! Table food is a no-no!