blog

Why a muzzle?

Dogs sometimes wear a muzzle. This can be for various reasons, such as:

• Preventing injuries
  Sighthounds are fast dogs with thin skin. When they run together, they can accidentally injure each other, especially with their sharp teeth. A muzzle helps to reduce this risk.
• Racing or coursing
  During a fun run or competition, wearing a muzzle is often mandatory.
• Safety
  With a muzzle, you can better protect both the dog and other people or animals in the area. Think of the introduction of a cat, an appointment at the vet or a wound that the dog is not allowed to lick.
• Food
  Some dogs like to eat everything off the ground. With a muzzle, you can better prevent this.

Open or closed muzzle?

A question that is often asked: is it best to choose an open or closed muzzle for my dog? One muzzle is no better than the other, it is often a matter of personal preference. A consideration you could make:

• Scavenging
  Does your dog eat stuff off the ground? The open muzzle may be sufficient, but some dogs are not hindered by the muzzle and press their entire snout (including muzzle) into something dirty. They might still manage to get something in through the small holes. Is your dog that determined? Then the closed muzzle is a better choice.
• Drinking
  Does your dog drink a lot? This is easier with the open muzzle because of the holes at the front. With a closed muzzle, the drinking bowl has to be filled a lot higher in order to be able to drink water with a muzzle on.
• Perception
  You will notice that some people have a negative bias when a dog wears a muzzle. You can choose a muzzle precisely because of this effect: the muzzle could make other people put their dog on a leash more quickly, which is very pleasant if you have a reactive dog. Or do you want the muzzle to be as discrete as possible? The choice of an open or closed muzzle is important here. Also consider the colour of the muzzle: do you prefer a cheerful bright colour or something that does not stand out against your dogs fur?
• Sturdy
  The closed muzzle is cast in one piece and is therefore slightly sturdier than the open muzzle.
• Fun run or coursing
  An open muzzle is usually worn during these events.

Please note: although a muzzle can be useful in certain situations, it is important that your dog learns that it is fun to wear a muzzle first! Make sure your dog gets used to the muzzle before you go for a walk with it. Our muzzles are lightweight and  will not withstand a dog constantly pawing it off or rubbing in on hard surfaces.

Some Greyhounds suffer from corns. What exactly are corns? And why do they often occur in greyhounds?

What are corns?

Corns are comparable to a callus on the foot. They are hard spikes in the pad of a dog’s paw. It often starts as a small spot that gradually grows larger and eventually breaks through the paw pad. A dog’s paw contains many nerve endings, and corns can be very painful. You can compare it to having a pebble in your shoe. It’s especially painful when pressure is applied to the affected toe. A softer surface can help relieve some of the pain.

How does a dog get a corn?

It’s not entirely clear why corns develop. It’s possible they are caused by a foreign object lodging itself in the paw pad, which then leads to the formation of a hard callus layer. Another theory is that Greyhounds lack enough fat in their paw pads, causing pressure between the toe and the pad.

Corns in Greyhounds

Not all dog breeds develop corns. Unfortunately, they are common in Sighthounds, especially Greyhounds or mixes. The age or gender of the dog doesn’t seem to play a role in the development of corns.

How do I know if my dog has a corn?

Not all veterinarians are familiar with corns since they are not common in most dogs. If you notice your dog limping or in pain with a paw, it’s wise to check the paw pads. Corns are often round and have a slightly raised edge. Also, pay attention to when your dog shows symptoms: walking on softer surfaces, like grass or carpet, will cause less pain than walking on asphalt or concrete. Notice if your dog prefers walking on softer ground.

What can be done about corns?

Unfortunately, there’s no easy, one-size-fits-all solution. In some dogs, corns keep recurring. The first option often used is to have the corn removed by a veterinarian. This is typically done with an instrument that gently lifts and removes the corn. A small hole will be left in the paw pad, but the procedure is not painful and doesn’t require anesthesia. Some people use a Dremel or file to smooth the corn down to the level of the paw pad or apply a softening ointment. This can provide relief but doesn’t solve the underlying problem.

Sometimes, the corn is surgically removed by cutting open the pad. Healing from this can be difficult, and the corn may return anyway. The last resort is to amputate the toe. However, this does not guarantee that the corn won’t develop on another toe.