Bird Dog Injuries

[skagit]

Just got back from bird hunting in Easter Washington and my 1 1/2 year old brittany is pretty scratched up and limping...... too much fun.   Any recommendations on treating the scratches?  Do people really use the booties for dogs???

[sisu]

I have two sets but they are not used often. Ruff Wear one set is low cut and the other is high cut. I use the liners too. The booties seem to stay put better with the liners on. BTW I never pay retail for this stuff I buy sales, outlets, or pro deal the stuff.

ruff wear

[Andrew]

My lab Libby has soft pads...I've tried to condition them, but I still bring a dog home with a cut or torn pad.  I bought a pair of boots that are made of neoprene and canvas, that actually zipper on and then also have two clasps.  They've yet to come off.  However, the downside she has zero 4WD capabilities if we get into snow.  I think they'd be find if I was not hunting 2:1 slopes (chukar hunting) or if there is a snow as well.  I've seen her slide down cheat grass cause of them. 

Similar to us getting blisters...your dog will be back to normal in 2-3 days depending on how bad.  As for soreness, I've heard and seen guys giving dogs an aspirin once back to the vehicle.

[beagledog]

try bag balm and  or blu kote for the scratches
its what framers use on live stock and works wonders on dogs too

[skagit]

Thanks for the tips.  I'll try the bag balm for the scratches and look into booties.

[halflife65]

I've just used Neosporin (or the cheapest subsitute I could find - Polysporin or whatever) for scratches and cuts.  If they can reach them to lick them I don't worry about them too much if they aren't real deep.  They'll keep them clean.  I really only doctor the ones that they can't get to (assuming it's not a major injury) - like on their chest from hitting a barbed wire fence or on their head, etc.

I've never used booties.  I had a springer at one point and did cut the long hair from between his pads because snow would stick to it and he walked on snowballs until his feet would bleed.  Trimming away the extra hair solved the problem.

[high country]

I use lewis dog boots when chukar huting in cactus country. they seem to be the only ones that work for us. my dog seems to be bullet proof (draht), but my FIL hunts a english pointer and a setter, gooooood hunters but it seems they are mad of butter......always getting cut or punctured. I have only stapled up one cut on my dog....pretty sure it would have cut the english dogs in half....lol.

[flinger]

I have tried boots on my dogs ended up in shreds so don't even try anymore.As far as cuts and scratches go try EMT gel it is a collegen base dressing and it works wonders

[wildweeds]

Here's a tip I kinda learned myself over the years through plenty of dogs.........................when looking at a pup...................check for black feet, the worst offender's I've had for being tenderfooted have been dogs with light colored pads,I had a pointer that was bad and a setter that was notorious for burning em off,they'd maker a day or two and then be worthless, best dog I had for tough feet was a setter with coal black pads and they were TOUGH, never a tender foot on that one his entire life.I hammered away on a setter female I got here and she had bloody feet from running on snow and cattails in South Dakota earlier this month,she never quit or let down an ounce,her foot got a paper cut like slice on it and it bled and bled and she just kept right on going like it didn't matter,she's a black footer too.I have some crap called "Pad heal" I smeared that on her one day and let it soak in overnight,Can't really say if it did anything or not,Because she was rip roaring ready to go the next morning,same as she was when we put her up the day before.

[Birdguy]

Boots have their place for us. As mentioned traction can be a issue with the boots, and I recommend having the dog wear them a few times before putting them on in the field. Watching the dog the first time they wear them each year is a fun time for all that get to watch .

[Skyvalhunter]

Instead of going for the facy stuff to put on a dogs pads just use Bag Balm as it does the trick!!

[high country]

Boots have their place for us. As mentioned traction can be a issue with the boots, and I recommend having the dog wear them a few times before putting them on in the field. Watching the dog the first time they wear them each year is a fun time for all that get to watch .

that is a fact!  I suggest putting them on a opposite corners first.......enjoy the show!