Burnt dog paws are a common problem for pet parents. At Sploot’s urgent vet care clinic, we treat these cases all year round, but they are especially prevalent during the hot months of summer or during winter when commercial ice melts are used.
Knowing the possible causes, severity, and appropriate first aid for paw burns is helpful knowledge for pet parents. This guide, prepared by Sploot, covers all these and more!
What Causes Paw Burns for Dogs?
Most burnt dog paws are either from physical, friction, or chemical causes. Here’s how they differ from each other:
- Physical or thermal burns — when heat is involved (e.g. hot concrete, hot liquid, & other hot surfaces).
- Friction burns — this kind of paw burn in dogs is caused by both abrasion and physical heat.
- Chemical burns — when harsh chemicals are the cause (e.g. ice melts, acidic compounds, gasoline, paint thinners, concrete mix, drain cleaners, motor oil).
How Do You Know If Your Dog’s Feet Are Burned?
Here are the general signs that your dog’s paw has been burned, whether physically, frictionally, or chemically:
- Licking or chewing on paw pads;
- Limping or limited mobility;
- Reluctance to walk;
- Panting heavily;
- Vocalizing (whining or whimpering);
- Cracking or peeling of the pad; and
- Redness, inflammation, blisters, or bleeding from the paw pad.
How to Tell if Burnt Dog Paws Are Mild or Severe
Once you know whether or not your dog’s paw is burned, the next step is to determine the extent. The extent of the burn determines your next steps for first aid.
Mild paw burns, or first-degree burns, only involve superficial damage to the epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin. These burns typically cause less pain and are less susceptible to infection than severe paw burns. There is NO blistering, cracking, peeling, or bleeding in mild paw burns.
Severe paw burns are second-degree burns and beyond. These burns involve damage to parts of the dermis (the second layer of the skin after the epidermis) — or deeper. For severe burns, pet parents can observe any combination of the following, listed in order of severity:
- Severe redness
- Cracking and peeling
- Blistering
- Bleeding
- Dead tissue (necrosis)
How Do I Treat My Dog’s Burned Paws?
A. First Aid for Mildly Burnt Paw Pads in Dogs
If your dog’s paw is mildly burned (first-degree burn), follow these first-aid steps:
1. Submerge The Affected Paw in Cold Water
Submerge the burnt paw in cold water for 10 minutes. This helps decrease heat and inflammation. If your dog resists having their paw held in water, you can also try using a clean cloth that’s been submerged in cold water. However, DO NOT RUB the paw pad.
Note: In the event of a chemical burn, cold running water may be best, to help rinse away the harsh chemicals. Make sure to also rinse in between the paw pads to avoid leaving behind residues.
2. Clean the Paw (Betadine or a Mild Soap)
Use betadine or a mild soap to gently wash away any impurities. Betadine is an antiseptic that kills germs. Meanwhile, a mild soap cleanses and emulsifies the affected area.
Note: For chemical burns, make sure to use soap. Unlike betadine, soap can help neutralize or remove various compounds that can cause chemical burns on a dog’s paw.
After washing, pat the area dry with a clean cloth or cotton pad. As a reminder, be gentle and DO NOT RUB the burned area as this can aggravate the injury.
3. Carefully Cut Away Excess Fur and Apply Paw Balm
Cut off excess fur on your dog’s paw pad as this can potentially gather dirt and infect the burn further. Sploot veterinarian, Dr. Sylvia Berns recommends pet parents to use a clipper with a guard on. The guard on the clipper controls the length of the cut while also preventing the blades from coming in contact with the skin. After fur is trimmed off, apply a thin layer of paw balm to help soothe the burn.
A few paw balm or paw wax options you can try include the following:
- Musher’s Secret — soothes scratches and burns; also protects against asphalt burns and snowballing during winter
- Paw Soother by Natural Dog Company — made with natural ingredients, this balm soothes discomfort from mildly burnt dog paws.
Note: AVOID using SCISSORS for this step. “We would cut the excess off at the vet as well,” explains Dr. Berns, “But I do caution pet parents from using scissors at home [for this step]. We have a lot of cases where they cut deeper and cause more harm, or the pet moves and they cut something else.”
4. Should a Mildly Burnt Paw Be Bandaged? What About Using a Cone?
Some dogs may need a cone to prevent them from licking or chewing their burned paw. Meanwhile, bandaging a mildly burned paw can be helpful in some cases. However, it’s best to contact your vet before bandaging your dog’s paw, especially if you do not have prior experience doing so.
Note: Bandaging incorrectly (too tightly, with too much ointment) can do more harm than good for mild burns. It can cut off circulation and delay the healing process. Furthermore, if a bandage is not kept dry and clean, it can become a breeding ground for harmful bacteria. When in doubt, always ask a vet!
5. Monitoring Your Dog’s Paw [How Long Do Mild Paw Burns Take to Heal]
Mild paw burns in dogs should only take a few days to heal. During this time, clean the paw and re-apply a thin layer of paw balm each day.
As you monitor your dog’s burnt paw for the next few days, contact your vet if you notice redness, swelling, or discharge.
In addition, Dr. Berns, one of Sploot’s veterinarians, also recommends strict rest for all burnt /torn paws [including mild cases]. She further explains: “This means being taken outside on a leash to urinate and defecate, and then are brought back inside. If possible, it’s best to walk on cooler and softer areas — but stay away from dirt, hot concrete, and other hot surfaces.”
B. Treating Severely Burnt Dog Paws [& When to Seek Vet Care]
As mentioned, severe paw burns involve damage to the layer/s beyond the epidermis of the dog’s paw. Typically, these burns (whether physical or chemical) result in cracking, peeling, blistering, bleeding, and/or tissue death. These kinds of burns need first aid, immediately followed by urgent vet care.
1. Flush the Severe Burn with Saline Water or Regular Water
Flush severe paw burns with saline water or regular water. Do NOT use cold water for severe burns. Here are other important reminders:
- If there are blisters, make sure that these are NOT broken or popped, since they are helping protect exposed skin.
- If there is active bleeding in the area, bandage it loosely and restrict your pup’s movement.
2. Bring Your Pup to an Urgent Care or Emergency Vet Care
We highly recommend bringing your pup to an urgent or emergency vet as soon as possible to have their burnt dog paw treated.
Veterinarians are best equipped to clean and bandage the wound properly. Vets will also do a combination of the following, depending on the paw burn’s severity:
- Provide pain relief medications and antibiotics;
- Give a cone for your pup; and
- Give instructions for wound care, restricting movement, and monitoring the paw burn.
3. Monitoring a Severe Burn [How Long Do Severe Paw Burns Take to Heal?]
Severely burned paw pads, whether physical, chemical, or frictional will take 2-3 weeks or more to heal. During this period, follow your vet’s advice on wound care and needed rest. In addition, watch out for signs of wound infection such as:
- Purplish discoloration and swelling;
- Pus (a greenish or yellowish discharge);
- A foul odor coming from the wound; and
- Fever and weakness.
If you observe any of the above signs of infection, promptly call your veterinarian.
Preventing Paw Burns in Dogs
Prevention is always better than cure. To help avoid burnt paws in dogs, here are our vet’s tips:
- Walk during cooler times — this prevents contact with hot concrete, asphalt, sand, or astroturf.
- Use dog boots — these are the best protection against all kinds of burns.
- Use paw balm — though not as good as dog boots, paw balm still provides a layer of protection (while also keeping your dog’s paw pads moisturized)
- Know how to handle chemical spills — keep your dog away from the spill and promptly clean it up.
- Check your dog’s paws for wear or dryness — if you see these, apply paw balm and limit rough play or running for a while.
- Leash train your pup — discouraging tugging habits helps keep paw pads safe from frictional abrasion or burns.
Final Thoughts on Burnt Paw Pads in Dogs
To wrap up, we’d like to remind pet parents to use first aid that fits the degree of paw burn. Unlike mild burns, severely burnt dog paws should NOT be soaked in cold water; the latter also needs urgent vet care.
Sploot Vets: Your Go-To Vet for Urgent Care
If you have further questions about first aid for burnt dog paws or urgent vet care, we’re here to help! Sploot Vets provides all-around care, with primary (preventative), urgent, and emergency vet services under one roof.
We have Fear Free vet clinics in Chicago and Denver, ready to provide compassionate, next-level care to your furry companion.
Book an appointment online or through the Sploot Vets petcare app! We accept scheduled, same-day, and drop-off appointments! Till next time, we’re with you every pounce of the way!
