corns

Hi Tapwatcher,

First of all having the toe removed is a twist my arm behind my back untill I give up last resort option.

There can be a number of causes for the dog skipping or hopping on that foot after a run.

You mentioned the possibility of a corn in the pad of that particular toe.

Now keep in mind that a corn in a pad is in fact a papilloma, which is caused by the papilloma virus, and becomes a corn only because of the dog walking on the pad causes it to grow inwards instead of outwards, as compared to a normal papilloma on some other part of the foot.

Because these are caused by a virus there is always a possibility that other corns or papilloma’s may appear untill such time as the dogs immune system fights off the virus.

This virus is also highly contagious and can survive on a kennel floor for many months entering the skin via minor abrasions, so washing kennel floors with a chlorine based disinfectant if one of the dogs gets a corn or a papilloma is certainly a good idea.

The treatment of corns resulting in their removal can certainly be slow and frustrating.

The first option that some trainers consider is to take the dog to their Vet to have the corn surgically removed. Unfortunately this does result in a fair sized wound in the pad, and because it is in the pad it heals very slowly, and can take up to four weeks before the dog could run on it comfortably again.

My preferred method takes a little longer but will at least allow the dog to keep working.

Corn treatment: First of all clean the pad with cotton wool dipped in mentholated spirits, and identify the exact location of the corn as this will be typified by a small hard area of pad with a tiny black centre.
Then by pressing the softer area of the pad downwards firmly right around the corn with fingers and nails, raise the corn above the pad as much as possible.

Using a scalpel or a small sharp blade such as found in a basic hobby knife set, or if nothing else is available a small snap blade, after disinfecting it by dipping it in mentholated spirits. Cut carefully into the edge of the hard pad section all the way around towards its centre, angling the blade slightly downwards, and remove as much of the hard section of pad and the centre of the corn as possible.

Because this is dead skin, this can be done without causing pain or bleeding.

Then treat the corn with a Styptic Pencil (Aluminium Sulphate) dipped in Mercurochrome Solution (Merbromin) by placing the tip of the styptic pencil on the corn and rotating it several times.

Treat three times daily for five days with the styptic pencil and mercurochrome solution.

The mercurochrome kills bacteria and the virus, while the aluminium sulphate reduces the available blood supply to the corn.

Yes the corn may grow back, and the whole thing may have to be repeated but I have found this a reasonably successful method of treating corns.

Without having to cut anything away, the mercurochrome and styptic pencil treatment also works well on a standard papilloma if you get to them early enough as it dries them out and they simply disappear.

Other possible causes for a dog to be skipping on a hind foot that should be investigated are; damaged sesamoids, damaged flexor tendons at the back of the hock, or damage to the calf muscle.

Cheers,
Tom