Matted fur inbetween paw pads.

[carol pearson]

It has always been a difficult job trimming Ozzy's feet, it needs two of us to hold him.

I try to keep the fur between his pads has short as possible but his feet are not tight (if you know what I mean, there seems to be a lot of space between his pads) and the fur gets matted.

He even tries to bite the knots out his self and I am worried that it may sometimes be uncomfortable when he walks.

Does anyone else have this problem and how do you deal with it.

[Toni-UK]

The only way i have been able to deal with it is to wash paws thoroughly after EVERY offlead park/forest walk TBH.

When Ruby went to the groomers it was quite easy to keep a check on her paws and keep them matt free as the groomer would clip out (empty) under her toes,so i just had to start washing them as the fur grew longer again.

Can't wait to get my clippers and do it myself. 

[Joules]

I try and trim between Coco's toes when she gets knots but she is not at all keen  

Soaking in warm, soapy water can dissolve knots if they are largely made up of mud, which hers often are  

[Miadanu]

Merlin's are also mainly made up of mud so he just gets a paw wash after every muddy walk to keep them at bay.  Of the odd ones that aren't mud based I cut them out.  I thnk the key thing is regular (every couple of days) checking to prevent them from building up and becoming painful and therefore more difficult to cuit out is the key.  Good luck!

[carol pearson]

Thanks guys.

He does get his paws washed after muddy walks and I try to keep the fur short, level with his pads.

I have been clipping him myself for the last 18 months because seemed to be getting really stressed going to the groomers and even when I tried a mobile groomer.
But he seems to have a lot of fur between his pads and I am worried about trying to cut down any deeper.

Do you cut level with pads or do you go deeper.
Is it best to use scissors or clipper?

[Emilyoliver]

I use a no. 10 to clip between their pads.

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

It has always been a difficult job trimming Ozzy's feet, it needs two of us to hold him.

I try to keep the fur between his pads has short as possible but his feet are not tight (if you know what I mean, there seems to be a lot of space between his pads) and the fur gets matted.

He even tries to bite the knots out his self and I am worried that it may sometimes be uncomfortable when he walks.

Does anyone else have this problem and how do you deal with it.

Sorry I can't really offer a solution, but Charlie was like this, and I got him a thundershirt, and he let me do his feet alone, and then he's graudually trusting me to do his feet without the shirt on too. It might be worth seeing if it helps with Ozzy?

[Toni-UK]

Thanks guys.

Do you cut level with pads or do you go deeper.
Is it best to use scissors or clipper?

I bought a pair of baby nail scissors with the rounded ends and i have snipped a "little deeper" under the toes as i don't have clippers at the moment 

[carol pearson]

Thanks

I have read lots of positive reviews for the thundershirt and think I might invest in one, I had not thought about it for trimming feet, but it would also come in usefull when visiting the vets.

I think I will try the baby scissors I will not be too nervous.

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

Thanks

I have read lots of positive reviews for the thundershirt and think I might invest in one, I had not thought about it for trimming feet, but it would also come in usefull when visiting the vets.

I think I will try the baby scissors I will not be too nervous.

 the first few  times I  had  mixed  reviews  but now  it's  fine.

[Miadanu]

I use straight scissors to cut level with the pads.  I do own some round pointed ones but to be honest haven't used them since he was a little pup...

[SuzanneE]

Since Daisy had to have an op to remove a grass seed   from under her armpit I have always clippered between the pads and toes to keep it nice and short (the vet said it was likely that the grass seed had got caught in the mats in her feet and travelled up and that it was vital to keep in between pads and toes as short as possible). She does have sensitive feet but has got used to me doing this over time.

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

I use straight scissors to cut level with the pads.  I do own some round pointed ones but to be honest haven't used them since he was a little pup...

Me too. I do have rounded one's, but I'm not entirely sure I've ever used them.

[carol pearson]

Thanks
Over the last 2 years he has had to have 3 grass seeds removed from his paws and I think may have been picked up because of the fur on feet.

So I need to percievere and try to keep then short and tidy.
I am dreading grass seed season.

[bluegirl]

Are the knots on top between his toes or underneath?
If on top you could use the thinning scissors too to help break up the matted area but also thin it out making it more manageable.