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Sore or injured feet are common problems but the symptoms of bad feet
vary and can be deceiving…!

Damaged feet sometimes cause lameness. They can also cause fever,
depression, appetite loss, dog may be reluctant to drink, to pull or to run. He
might avoid walking on rough surfaces. He may even be reluctant to stand up.
All of this can occur EVEN without signs of lameness.

A sled dog is only as good as his feet, so it is critical to avoid foot problems.
Unfortunately the feet take a great deal of abuse.

All About Feet
A dog’s foot has thick, though skin over pads of dense fat that act as cushions,
absorbing the first impact every time the foot strikes the ground. The skin of
the pad should feel tough by pliable, be resistant to abrasions and lacerations,
and be free from cracks, dryness or scarring.
If the hairs underneath the feet are stained reddish, the dog probably has been
licking his feet excessively. This dog may have sore feet, or he may have
developed the habit of licking his feet when he did have sore feet.
A smallish, tight foot with a high arch is more resistant to injuries. Big, spayed
feet expose more of the thin-skinned webbing to the ground.

A dog’s conformation affects the feet. Dogs that tend to pound on their front
feet are more susceptible to foot soreness. A heavy head and shoulders can
stress the front feet.
A light, well-angulated, long-legged dog has a light, long stride and takes fewer
steps to cover the same ground, thus abusing his feet less. His feet might not
actually be tougher, but because his stride stresses them less, they hold up
better.
The front feet carry over half of the dog’s weight and absorb the forward
momentum of every stride; therefore they are more susceptible to injury.

Genetics plays a strong role in foot quality. Pay close attention to this if you
are a breeder. A dog with weak feet should not be bred at all. Feet are
somewhat critical in sprint dogs.

Preventative Foot Care
When a dog is run, the hide on his feet toughens in a natural response to the
stress. If he is run too much, the skin wears away faster than it forms.
Dryness and cleanliness cut down on parasitic, bacterial and fungal infections.
A lack of fat or zinc in the diet, or an absorption problem, can weaken the feet.
A biotin supplement (which helps in fat absorption) may help. Liver disease,
hormonal changes and other conditions also affect the feet.
Some people do not clip the dog’s nails. If the nails are long enough to force the
toes upward when the dog is standing on a hard, level surface—CLIP THEM!
Booties
Booties can keep a dog in your team and your team on the trail. Improperly
used, they can cause dropped dogs or scratched teams. Use booties ONLY
when you must but ALWAYS when you must.
Although they protect the feet, booties can interfere with circulation if they
are fastened too tightly, causing swelling, cracks, infection.
Always remove the booties immediately upon stopping your team.