kleine schattige teckel met pododermatitis op schoot

Dog with pododermatitis? 7 tips for treating it well

Does your dog suffer from pododermatitis? If so, you’ll naturally want to do everything you can to help your beloved pet and ease their discomfort. Read on to find out what you can do to help your dog!

What exactly is pododermatitis?

Pododermatitis is actually a collective term for various types of inflammation. These inflammations always occur on a dog’s paws. The condition can, for example, occur between the toes, on the pads, around the nails or on other parts of the paw. It is therefore not a specific disease, but a symptom that points to another problem.

Dogs with pododermatitis often suffer from sensitive, red or swollen paws. You may notice this because they start licking, biting or scratching their paws a lot. If this isn’t treated properly, the symptoms can get worse.

What types of inflammation and problems can this include?

Pododermatitis can encompass various types of skin problems and inflammation. Here are a few examples:

Inflammation of the skin between the toes, also known as interdigital dermatitis
Bacterial infections
Inflammation around the nails
Inflamed hair follicles
Abscesses or cysts between the toes
Allergic skin inflammation on the paws

Symptoms often vary widely, ranging from mild to severe inflammation. It is therefore always important to identify the underlying cause so that you can treat the symptoms more effectively.

golden retriever pododermatitis

Source: Pexels

7 tips to help your dog with pododermatitis

1. Identify the cause

Pododermatitis is often the result of another problem, such as an allergy, infection or irritation. That is why it is important to find out what is causing the symptoms. Your vet can carry out tests to determine the best course of treatment.

2. Keep the paws clean and dry

Check your dog’s paws regularly for dirt, mud, grass or other irritating substances. If necessary, you can rinse the paws with lukewarm water. Do make sure you dry them thoroughly afterwards, particularly between the toes. If they remain wet, these symptoms can actually worsen.

3. Prevent your dog from excessive licking and biting

Most dogs cope with itching or pain by licking or biting their paws. This can cause further damage to the skin and make inflammation worse. You should therefore try to distract your dog if you notice this happening and consult a vet if you notice your dog licking excessively.

4. Watch out for allergies

The most common causes of pododermatitis are environmental and food allergies. You should therefore pay close attention to your dog’s diet and environment, and check whether their symptoms vary with the seasons. If you notice a possible allergy, discuss this with your vet.

5. Protect the paws from irritation

Things such as salt on the road, hot paving slabs, rough ground or certain plants can irritate the paws. You should therefore adjust your walks accordingly and clean the paws thoroughly afterwards.

6. Ensure a good diet

Healthy skin starts from within, even in animals. Therefore, ensure their diet contains essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. This supports a healthy skin barrier and your dog’s overall immunity.

7. Use red light therapy

Red light therapy helps to stimulate natural processes in the body and reduce inflammation between the paws. You should therefore use red light therapy with a device you can use at home, such as the PowerCure Pro, to support your dog’s recovery from pododermatitis.

How does red light therapy help with pododermatitis?

Red light therapy is now increasingly used in dogs, including for skin problems and inflammation. The red light can support the recovery process, reduce inflammation and relieve pain. The red light penetrates the skin and stimulates the cells in that area. These are the potential effects of red light therapy for pododermatitis:

Supporting blood circulation in the area
Stimulating cell activity and supporting the healing process
Softening the skin and reducing tension in the affected area
Soothing irritation and sensitive skin
Reducing inflammation and pain
Preventing the condition from worsening or other symptoms from arising

Red light therapy always works best in combination with other treatments, such as proper care and veterinary advice. You can now use this form of light therapy at home on your beloved pet.

PowerCure red light therapy

The PowerCure Pro is a red light therapy device that you can use for your dog. It also helps with other complaints and conditions in dogs, cats, horses and humans. So one device benefits the whole household! There are many positive experiences with the PowerCure Pro, for both people and animals.

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