[CorkyMax]

Dog and cat paw pads are thick and tough but they are still walking barefoot, making them susceptible to abrasions, lacerations, and burns. Avoid letting your pet run on hot pavement.

If you notice that your pet is limping, examine his paws for any signs of injury.

Moisturize your pet's paw pads only to soothe soreness. Too much moisturizing will make the paw pads soft, which makes them susceptible to injury.

To prevent your long-haired pet from getting matted hair between it's toes, trim back the hair with a pair of grooming scissors.

Use a soft towel to dry your pet's feet after a wet walk or run outside. Too much moisture can irritate the paw pads.

Now keeping in mind not to over-moisturize and only do it when you feel it necessary to heal or to take care of really dry pads---
1. Rubbing Chapstick into dry paw pads seals in moisture and heals rough, dry skin.
2. Moistureize tender paw pads by rubbing on Bag Balm, the salve used to relieve cracking in cow udders.
3. To soothe sore paw pads, soak the paws in warm water for 5 mins, and then seal in the moisture by coating the pads with a smalldab of all-vegetable shortening. To prevent your pet from licking it off, apply right before mealtime, so your pet will be distracted by food long enough to let the soybean and cottonseed oils penatrate the thick pads.
4. To moisturize paw pads, rub a few drops of baby oil into the pads.
5. To moisturize rough paw pads, soak your pet's paws in warm water for 5 mins, and, while still wet, rub in a small dab of Vaseline Petroleum Jelly. Then cover your pet's paws with small cotton socks to prevent him from licking off the petroleum jelly. Note: You might put elastic bands on the socks if it isn't too tight.--Or you could tape them on but may be harder to remove---I had to do this with my Corky when he had a growth removed from his paw pad and had stitches.----Think I used little boy's socks.
6. Noxzema moisturizes tender sore paw pads. The camphor, menthol, and eucalyptus oil will prevent your pet from licking it's paws.
7. If your dog or cat licks it's paws obsessively, saturate a cotton ball with apple cider vinegar and wipe it on the paws to make them less appetizing.
8. To remove a stubborn burr from your pet's paw, apply a few drops of vegetable oil, and then use a pair of tweezers to pull it free. Wash out any residual oil with soapy water, rinse clean, and pat dry.
9. To clean mud, salt, and chemical de-icers from your pet's paws and feet (and between the toes), use baby wipes.
10. If your pet injures a foot and your vet prescribes soaking the appendage in a medical solution, fill a Ziplock storage bag with the liquid, place your pet's foot in the bag, and seal it shut as much as possible. Hold your pet still while the foot soaks for the required time.

[JayBee]

Another great post. My Basset has huge paws and I wipe them off a lot. Fortunately his paws don't have hair that grows.