Trimming Between the Pads of a Lhasa Apso"s Feet - Why and How
Take a look at the bottom of your Lhasa Apso's feet.
Can you see the pads or are they hidden by the thick hair that grows between them? The hair between the pads of a Lhasa's feet grows quite long and quite fast.
If ignored, that hair will mat.
These mats become problematic if the dog gets his feet wet from walking in rain or snow.
Left alone, the mats increase in size and may spread the pads further apart until the dog feels pain or discomfort.
If the Lhasa is outdoors a lot, burrs, stickers, and bits of gravel can become lodged in the hair between the pads, again resulting in the Lhasa's discomfort.
Ignored, these mats can also lead to hot spots between the pads.
Fortunately, keeping the pads neatly trimmed is an easy task.
If you are not showing your Lhasa, you probably will only have to trim the between the pads monthly.
Here is what you can do: with the dog on his side or back, hold a leg steady at an angle that is easy for you to work with and comfortable for your dog.
The hand that holds the leg will have to do double duty because you'll need to spread the pads slightly apart so you can trim down between them.
If help is available, have another person assist, perhaps by holding the dog's leg steady (some Lhasas have ticklish feet and will jerk their feet away from you as you touch them).
You may use a small clipper for this task, something the size of a man's mustache trimmer works nicely.
Or you may use a small scissors.
If you opt for scissors, be careful not to cut a pad! Have some Gold Bond powder on hand to put between the pads once the trimming is done, in case there is some razor burn from the clipper.
Can you see the pads or are they hidden by the thick hair that grows between them? The hair between the pads of a Lhasa's feet grows quite long and quite fast.
If ignored, that hair will mat.
These mats become problematic if the dog gets his feet wet from walking in rain or snow.
Left alone, the mats increase in size and may spread the pads further apart until the dog feels pain or discomfort.
If the Lhasa is outdoors a lot, burrs, stickers, and bits of gravel can become lodged in the hair between the pads, again resulting in the Lhasa's discomfort.
Ignored, these mats can also lead to hot spots between the pads.
Fortunately, keeping the pads neatly trimmed is an easy task.
If you are not showing your Lhasa, you probably will only have to trim the between the pads monthly.
Here is what you can do: with the dog on his side or back, hold a leg steady at an angle that is easy for you to work with and comfortable for your dog.
The hand that holds the leg will have to do double duty because you'll need to spread the pads slightly apart so you can trim down between them.
If help is available, have another person assist, perhaps by holding the dog's leg steady (some Lhasas have ticklish feet and will jerk their feet away from you as you touch them).
You may use a small clipper for this task, something the size of a man's mustache trimmer works nicely.
Or you may use a small scissors.
If you opt for scissors, be careful not to cut a pad! Have some Gold Bond powder on hand to put between the pads once the trimming is done, in case there is some razor burn from the clipper.