Paw Soaks: My Fave Herbal Combo
by Christy Caplan
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October 18, 2017 When Bruiser’s interdigital cysts on his paws don’t flare up I feel like I’ve won the lottery. He has a terrible “reaction” to Prednisone and the less I need to put him on steroids, the better. I’m fairly confident he has early dementia on top of the cysts and his irritable bowel disease thankfully is under control. So when we found a paw soak that actually works I wanted to shout it from the rooftops. Our holistic Vet makes up the soak but I’ve included the elements of it below so you can share with your Vet if you think it may help your four-legged munchkin.
There are benefits to foot soaks and cysts are not the only reason to use a soak on your dog’s paws. Here is a great article that goes into more detail.
Recipe for a foot soak:
- Herbs: Golden Seal, Chamomile
- Epsom Salts
- Warm water
- No Licking
Technique:
- Three tablespoons of Epsom Salts
- A cup of warm water
- 1/4 Teaspoon of herb soak mix (Goldenseal and Chamomile)
- 15 minutes 2-3 times a day
- Boots to protect feet after the soak
- Optional: Eezapet soothes his dry feet, a fave product of mine
This may sound like a lot of work but it only takes about five minutes to make up the soak. After a few days, the inflammation comes down and his feet are noticeably more comfortable. He doesn’t put up too much of a fuss! What have you found that works for paws?
I’m not a Vet so please check with your Vet or tech before looking into paw soaks. While this works well for Bruisy, every dog is different!
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I’m so glad you’ve found something to help Bruiser. While we don’t have need of this right now, it’s great information if we ever do (and we shared for those that might).
Thank you so much: It has kind of saved us from a lot of painful pred courses. Thank you for sharing and honestly I hope it helps folks! It’s so stressful – and I know it’s just paws but it creates so much anxiety over here…
I read the article and I can certainly see why. Anything that causes our pets pain or discomfort is anxiety-inducing, especially something like this that does not sound so easily treatable. Luke recently had a bout with allergies, and it was so frustrating trying to make him comfortable (we didn’t want to turn to drugs if we didn’t have to, plus taking him to the vet is a nightmare).
Hi
Where do you get the goldenseal and chamomile from? We sufferred for months w interdigital cysts. Took alot of pred to get rid of them and im scared they will return.
Oh my gosh! Bruiser’s return a LOT. I mean like every three weeks. I swear by this – our holistic vet mixes this up for me in huge tinctures. So she’s the one with the chamomile and goldenseal BUT I found some success just with the Epsom Salts and was crazy about doing it 3X/day for 15 minutes. Lukewarm water. That may give your dog some relief but I highly recommend doing a consult with a vet. Pred was really turning Bruiser into a lunatic – I think he has early dementia and it amplifies it. So the soaking is my go to. Please let me know if you try this… out vet really likes Goldenseal for this.
Thank you. We tried just Epsom soaks. It didnt help. Colby is a weimaraner though and hes not fond of soaking for 15 min (cant stand still). Id dunk each paw for two minutes each. We tried provoiodine ive tried ever wipe imaginable. Ive gone to a holistic vet and was prescribed various chinese medication. I went to my normal vet and was given multiple types of steriods, shampoos and antibiotics. Nothing worked. So i switched his diet. Then he had to go on pred for a ear hematoma and had a cytopoint injection. I think the cytopoint caused the hematoma. I refuse to give him another one. Saw last week the redness is back so I will try and find these herbs and try them out. It took me months to get rid of them and im scared they will return.
So you use a liquid form of the golden seal and chamomile? Making sure before I purchase the materials. Thank you so much for posting what has worked for you. Im hoping!
Yes! Liquid form. Our holistic vet mixed up the soak for us – I would ask your holistic to make something similar for you for sure. We soak for 15 minutes 3X day and I’m crazy about it — but I do make him stand there for the entire time period. That said – something is better than nothing. Ask your vet that gave you the chinese medication (sorry that didn’t work) to make you up something similar. But yes, it was liquid form and I think 20 ml goldenseal and 10 ml chamomile – so 30 ml total and added to Epsom salts and one cup of luke warm water. The golden seal is YELLOW and I notice it stains and has a distinct smell. So have a towel down for sure. We also use a gel prescribed by our vet afterwards. it is worth a try. And better to be proactive – I hear you, they are a nightmare. I absolutely recommend having a chat with your Vet(s) about the soak and herbs they choose for this. Also, we have boots for Bruisy that he wear anytime he is out.
I’m fairly confident he has early dementia on top of the cysts and his irritable bowel disease thankfully is under control. So when we found a paw soak that actually works I wanted to shout it from the rooftops. Our holistic Vet makes up the soak but I’ve included the elements of it below so you can share with your Vet if you think it may help your four-legged munchkin. Thank you so much: It has kind of saved us from a lot of painful pred courses. Thank you for sharing and honestly I hope it helps folks! It’s so stressful – and I know it’s just paws but it creates so much anxiety over here…I read the article and I can certainly see why. Anything that causes our pets pain or discomfort is anxiety-inducing, especially something like this that does not sound so easily treatable.
Thanks so much for commenting – it has definitely been anxiety-inducing! Luckily we’ve found a pretty good interim solution!