Get a Thorn out of a Dogs Paw

Since dogs are active animals that love playing outside, it is common for a thorn or some other type of splinter to get stuck in their paws. If this happens, your dog will probably limp or hesitate stepping with his injured foot. While this injury is painful for your dog, treatment is usually simple. With careful removal of the thorn and a thorough cleaning, your dog should make a full recovery.

Steps

Keeping Your Dog Calm

1. Pet your dog and speak in a soothing tone. Your dog will probably be in pain and won't realize that you're trying to help. Your first actions should be calming the dog down so you can inspect the wound and take necessary action. Pet the dog in his favorite spot for a few minutes to get him relaxed. When he calms down, you can continue with removing the thorn.
2. Give your dog a treat. If necessary, you can give your dog a treat while you inspect the wound. This will distract him and allow you to take the necessary first aid steps while the dog is preoccupied. You'll want a treat that will keep your dog busy for a while, so some are better than others.
   • Milk bones. Most dogs can eat a milk bone in just a few bites, even if the bone is large. These probably won't work well in this situation.
   • Rawhide bones. This is a more long-lasting option, since these bones take longer to chew. Rawhide can be hazardous to your dog if the bone breaks into small pieces, but this shouldn't be an issue in this situation. You'll be done working on the paw before your dog can chew it this much.
   • A toy filled with peanut butter. Many dog toys are hollowed out so you can put a treat or peanut butter inside. Putting peanut butter inside one of these toys will keep your dog occupied for quite a while, because he'll want to lick it all out.
3. Get someone to hold the dog. Inspecting the wound and pulling out the thorn will be painful and your dog will probably try to pull away. It is a big help if there is someone around to hold the dog in place while you work.
   • There are several techniques for safely restraining a dog. The particular position you hold your dog in will depend on where exactly the wound is. Click here for pictures and descriptions of different restraining techniques you could use.
   • Remember that the most important part of restraining the dog is controlling his mouth. Even if your dog is friendly and has never bitten anyone before, any animal can turn aggressive when it is in pain and scared. He may bite as a reflex when you touch the wound. Make sure the holder keeps his hand over the dog's mouth to prevent this.
   • When restraining the dog, only use light pressure when he isn't struggling. If he starts to struggle, apply more pressure, then let off when he stops. This will gradually show him that if he doesn't struggle, you'll press down with less force.
4. Muzzle your dog if necessary. Sometimes animals respond very badly to being restrained, especially if they're in pain. This could be dangerous for you and everyone around, because a panicked dog can deliver a nasty bite. If your dog is snapping or acting very aggressive, muzzle him for your own safety.
   • If you don't have a muzzle handy, you can use gauze wrap for a makeshift muzzle. Click here for instructions on using this technique to muzzle your dog.
5. Avoid moving on if your dog is out of control. If your dog is in a lot of pain, he might respond violently. If you can't control him, don't try to keep restraining him. You could injure both yourself and your dog. Instead leave him alone and see if he'll calm down on his own. In the meantime, call your vet and see what he suggests.

Removing the Thorn

1. Locate the thorn. You'll probably know which paw the thorn is in because your dog wasn't putting it down, but you have to find its exact location. Once the dog is safely restrained, inspect the paw. Use a flashlight if you need to.
   • Also remember to look in between the toes if you're having trouble finding the thorn. Foreign objects could be hiding here.
2. Wash the area with disinfectant soap and warm water. You want to avoid an infection in your dog's paw. An infection will delay the healing process and could require a few visits to the vet. When you've located the thorn, carefully wash around it with soap and warm water. This will help fight infection, and the warm water may soften the skin and make pulling the thorn out easier.
3. Sterilize a pair of tweezers. Before pulling out the thorn, you have to make sure the tweezers you're using are clean. Wipe them down with alcohol to kill any microbes and help prevent an infection.
4. Pull out the thorn. Grasp the thorn firmly with the tweezers, as close to the dog's skin as possible. Then quickly pull the thorn out. While pulling quickly will cause pain, it will ensure that the process ends fast and your dog can start recovering.
5. Wash the area again. You should also wash the area after pulling out the thorn to further fight infection. You can use soap and water again, or a disinfectant like betadine.
6. Wrap the wound if it's still bleeding. Oftentimes small puncture wounds will stop bleeding fast and won't require wrapping. If the wound is a little larger and bleeds, however, use gauze to wrap up the paw.
   • Start by drying the wound. If you do wrap the paw, a moist environment is favorable for bacterial growth.
   • Place a sterile, non-stick gauze pad over the wound.
   • Use non-stick gauze bandage to wrap up the paw. Start from the toes and work up to the bottom of the dog's ankle joint.
   • Wrap adhesive tape over the bandage. Continue this up about an inch past where the gauze bandage ends to ensure that the dressing stays on your dog's paw.
7. Visit the vet if necessary. If you have any trouble getting the thorn out, wrapping the wound, stopping the bleeding, or suspect something may be wrong at all, call your vet. Schedule an appointment so he can inspect the wound and take care of any issues there may be.
8. Watch for signs of infection. Monitor your dog carefully for at least a week after you remove the thorn. Take him to the vet if you see any of the following symptoms.
   • Redness or swelling around the wound area.
   • Discharge of pus from the wound.
   • Hot feeling on or around the wound.
   • If the dog exhibits increased pain, like suddenly limping or refusing to put the paw down.

Preventing Injury to Your Dog's Paws

1. Keep your dog's nails trimmed. It is common for a dog's nails to get caught on something and get cut or pulled out. This injury is painful and can cause an infection. Avoid it by keeping your dog's nails trimmed to a good length. Read Trim a Dog's Nails for instructions on caring for your dog's nails. Your vet can also do this during checkups, so ask the next time you visit.
2. Inspect your dog's paws regularly. The pads on your dog's feet go through a lot of wear and tear, and are very susceptible to injury. Look for any cuts, cracks, or tears in the pads. Even small injuries can get worse, so talk to your vet if you find any and have them looked at to prevent further injury.
3. Get protective footwear for your dog. There are several brands of footwear designed to protect your dog's feet. If you live in an area with rough terrain or your dog has experienced injuries before, it might be a good idea to look into these. You can ask your vet for a recommendation, or ask the staff at your local pet store.
4. Clean your yard. While you may not be able to avoid sharp objects when taking your dog for a walk, you can make sure that your own property is free of danger. Search your lawn and yard for sharp objects like glass, nails, screws, or anything else that could injure your dog. This can help avoid serious injuries for your dog.

Warnings

• The process of removing the thorn will be painful for your dog. It may be difficult for you to cause pain to your dog, but you have to remember that this is all to help him.

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• Remove a Thorn

Sources and Citations

See also

• Avoid Harming Your Puppy
• Give a Dog Benadryl
• Determine Your Dog's Age
• Keep a Dog in Good Health
• Treat Hot Spots in Dogs
• Help a Dog Who Has Canine Epilepsy
• Take Care of a Dog
• Know When Your Dog is Sick
• Treat Neck Pain in Dogs
• Spot Rabies in a Dog

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