I have a 3.5 yo male akita. he was outside for about 5 hours today. There is snow on the ground, but there are clear areas for my dogs to lay in, walk around ,etc. I noticed this evenin that his two front paws appear slightly swollen. He does not limp, does not show any pain or discomfort. Should I take him to the vet immediatley, or should I take a wait and see approach?
2006-12-27 15:59:49 · 8 answers · asked by Billie L 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Check his paws and make sure there is nothing stuck in them. Look and see if there are cuts on the pads or if the pads are peeling. If this is the case you could rinse the pads off with some warm water, in case there is some salt in there.
If you can afford it I would take him to the vet soon rather then later.
2006-12-27 16:05:41 · answer #1 · answered by bastcat8 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depending on where you are and how cold it is...5 hours is no big deal. Especially for an Akita. Mine LOVE the cold. The colder the better. Wait and see...if he wasn't used to being outside, then I'd take him in tomorrow if the swelling doesn't go down. That movie that was made a couple years ago called "8 below" about sled dogs....those were actually akitas. They can't take heat, but every one I've met wants to stay outside in the snow. The hard part is getting them back in.
****ok, someone's griping about 8 below.......Yes, the movie used huskies and malamutes....but it was based on a true story, and in actuality...they were akitas. Hollywood didn't want to use akita's, which is fine by me. The rescues have a hard enough time keeping up without making the breed popular.
2006-12-28 00:24:18 · answer #2 · answered by Jupiter 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
According to Wikipedia, the dogs in Eight Below were 6 Siberian Huskies and 2 Malamutes.
I'd wait on your dog's paws until morning. You didn't mention the temp or if your Akita had shelter. Sometimes if the snow is loose, it can build up in the dog's paws and force ice balls that are quite painful and irritating. Especially if your dog has hair in his pads.
Akitas are spitz type dogs, bred for the cold, hence the double coat. If your Akita is properly acclimatized, he sould be fine outside for long periods. My Akita mix used to love to lay in the snow in the sunshine in Alaska in teh winter.
2006-12-28 02:43:42 · answer #3 · answered by renodogmom 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if he is not used to being out in cold weather for long periods, the swelling may just be his pads reacting to the prolonged contact with cold ground - sort of like your hands if outside in cold weather with no gloves, once you warm them back up. If so, should be better by morning. If worse, I would check with vet.
might try soaking his paws in warm (not hot) epsom salts if they seem tender
2006-12-28 00:07:41 · answer #4 · answered by BJ 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My Akita goes nuts when it snows. When I let him out it is like a cat with catnip he runs around like a nut and plays hard (he is 5). He also is very reluctant to come in he loves the cold.. so maybe your guy just ran himself around silly... Please update on post( what happened)
2006-12-28 12:13:50 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wait a day and if they don't go down in swelling, take him in. He could have frost bite. He shouldn't have been out for hours!! If frostbite is severe enough, he could lose a limb. Next time, please bring him in every now and then.
2006-12-28 00:02:06 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would see how he is in the morning.
2006-12-28 00:01:19 · answer #7 · answered by hoodoowoman 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There might be somthing stuck in them.
2006-12-28 00:48:19 · answer #8 · answered by Dog lover 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋