1114 WOUNDS OF THE PAD IN DOGS. 



away, and cause the animal to show pain when walking, a condition 

 most commonly seen in sporting-dogs during the winter. In addition, 

 the pads may be injured by treading on sharp objects, like pieces 

 of glass, which produce more or less serious wounds, or by the animal 

 stepping in caustic chemical substances like quicklime, acids, &c. 



The naturally black colour of the pad is lost when its epidermis is 

 excessively worn, and the surface then appears more or less red, 

 painful on pressure, and abnormally warm. The animal rests a 

 great deal, and when on rough ground, takes short steps, exhibits 

 pain, and has a desire to lick the pads. Should the epidermis be 

 completely worn away at any point, suppuration, or even necrosis 

 of the pad may occur. Severe lameness results, appetite is lost, 

 and fever sets in. Wounds of the pad generally suppurate, and 

 frequently show limited necrosis. 



The prognosis is generally favourable when rest can be given and 

 necrosis is not extensive. In some cases the phalangeal joints become 

 the seat of purulent inflammation, though such a result is rare. 



Treatment. When the pads are sore, the animal should be rested 

 and placed on a dry, clean bed. In eight to fourteen days the 

 epidermis will have grown again. If the parts be wounded or sup- 

 purating, the undermined epidermis is carefully removed with scissors, 

 the wound cleansed, and any foreign body removed. Abscesses, 

 when present, are freely laid open. Further treatment is scarcely 

 desirable, both because the animal resists, and because it keeps the 

 wound thoroughly clean by licking the surface. A surgical dressing 

 is seldom needed unless granulation appears too active or cicatrisation 

 is checked by the animal's interference. A dressing may then be 

 applied, or the diseased spot may be smeared with some bitter-tasting 

 substance, like aloes, which repels the animal, and at the same time 

 assists healing. Severe itching is sometimes removed by pencilling 

 with cocaine solution, but precautions are required against absorption 

 of the drug. 



Frequently, small cysts form between the toes, causing lameness 

 and considerable suffering. One foot or simultaneously several feet 

 may be affected. Surface applications are of little use in these 

 cases, and the only effective treatment consists in removal of the 

 cyst- wall and contents, followed by the application of an antiseptic 

 dressing. 



