tenderfeet?

[ship2442]

I have a couple of dogs that have really tender feet. any suggestions on how to fix my problem?

[larry]

are they walkers?

[twist]

I dont care what kind of dog you hunt if you hunt them hard enough with out proper conditioning you will have sore feet. The main key is conditioning (roading) if this is done consistantly at the least 1 month prior to hunting you shouldnt have a problem. When I say this I meen at least 3 times a week and a minimum of 2 miles. Alot of hound hunters just dont relieve a well conditioned hound also catches more game. Andy

[FullCryHounds]

Andy is correct. If you keep your dogs in a kennel, and they don't get out to run several times a week, you will have feet problems. Since I've been keeping my dogs in a one acre run, they all run around all day long. Even if I don't get them out to road, they still keep thier feet conditioned.
You should look at changing your setup how you are keeping your dogs, maybe you can get them on a different type of floor/ground where they spend most of thier time.

[call-me-ish]

I grew up around a lot of greyhound hunters (coyote) who kept their dogs on pee gravel for foot conditioning. I used the method for a season on my coondogs but didn't like the cleanup issue versus concrete. I have just relocated and am in the process of fixing a dog run-around. I am going to include an area with some pee gravel for foot conditioning. Just a place they run through. You can tell it works their pads because the gravel slings six to eight feet in the air.

[Todd Davis]

I hunt walkers and haven't had feet trouble (Yet) . I agree little conditioning before season will help. There are a few tricks out there that can also harden the pads and help heel them quicker. Sometimes the roughest conditions are hard on the toughest footed dogs. Good luck

Todd

[slowandeasy]

has anyone ever heard of a product called hoove-ox? a vet friend of mine and dads use to give it to us but has long past away. and i try not to bother with the modern day vets as they are on a different planet than i $$$$$$$ it sure was very very affective on pads.

[Gary Roberson]

Hunting here (Hill Country) in the limestone and in South Texas in flint rock, I have had problems with my "pink footed" dogs and yes, they were walkers. Conditioning is the best way to reduce this problem but it will not eliminate it. I would bet that south texas who hunts more than anyone I know and darn sure has his dogs in shape will tell you that after he hunts a day of two in the flint rock, the dogs pads get really sore. If you never jump a cat and the dogs ever have a tough race or two then you may not have any problems, but South Texas is going to get one running.
In this limestone country, I cut pads on dogs from time to time it is generally when I have a good race down a dry creek bed or along a steep bluff. I don't think that the limestone is as tough on dogs feet as the flint rock even though the country is much gentler.
I am a little strange and much prefer a four black hooves on horses as well. Not so much for all that "chrome" much more interested in getting back home.
Adios,
Gary

[al baldwin]

Will give what knowledge I have. Sure agree with the exercise pens & gravel. Tuf- foot is a product I have used for a long time. My dogs are turned lose each day and roaded on my small property with a four wheeler on a short gravel road in the off season. That sure helps, but have found that applying Tuf- Foot twice daily a couple weeks before hunting season has sure helped eliminate slipped pads. Years ago had a dog that I had to use Fuf-FOOT on a regular routine, found it to be the only way could keep the feet under him. Read on the bottle about the prehunting use on all dogs & can say it sure has worked for me. In this wet area fungus on dogs feet can be a problem some winters, have fonnd Tuf-FOOT does not cure fungus, Blu- kote has worked for fungus. There was one local hunter who dipped dogs feet in kerosene & said it really worked for slipped pads. Not something I would do. Thanks Al Baldwin

[ship2442]

my dog are well condition i just have a couple that if they get in a good race they are pretty much done hunting for a few days after cause they are so sore footed ... we hunt rocky colorado country... all my hounds have space to run and the ground is tough... i was just wanting to get some old houndsmen remedy! Any advise for dogs that have sore feet to speed the healing process so we can hunt them faster?

[Gary Roberson]

Al
I too, have used Tuf Foot with some success. Seems like I just hate the hassle of treating a dog before he/she has a problem. I generally wait until a dog is crippled and then I think, dang I should have been treating that dog.
Adios,
Gary

[krk hunting]

My hunting area is very hard on dogs feet no matter what the conditioning. Dont get me wrong though the better the conditioning the longer you can hunt. When my dogs are getting sore footed i use a product called koppertox and it usually buys me a few extra day 1-2 depending on how sore. I also use a product called hoof alive and it is great for helping the pads to heal much quicker. I have found i usually can get that dog out a day or two sooner if i use this after the koppertox.

Thanks

Kevin

[slowandeasy]

kevin i think those two products are almost the same lines as that hoove ox. but the hoove ox had a real pine pitch texture to it. can't find it anywhere any more. take care

[dwalton]

Conditioning is a must but I find you can still have problems from cuts and abrasions. Running on ice, lava or what ever can eat up feet. I wash the dogs feet with chlorhexidine after a hard run that I feel there feet have been damaged. I use it to clean the clay off the dogs feet that traps bacteria or fungus on the feet. It is also a good disinfectant for kennels. I was married to a vet, she got me to using it. It is the best that I have found and I think I have tried it all. I buy it by the gallon mixing one table spoon to a gallon of water makes it a very inexpensive treatment. Dewey

[krk hunting]

Dewey,

Where did you get this product i would like to try it. What beside bleach does everyone use to clean your kennels also?

Kevin