Interdigital Cysts: Red lumps that appear between the toes on the front feet, causes include inverted hair follicles, grass seeds or cutting very long toe nails and altering the pressure put on the toes. There is very little that can be done to prevent interdigital cysts but you can help alleviate them by soaking the dogs feet in a solution of Epsom Salts and cooled kettle water, dry thoroughly and apply Betadine ointment between each toe. A short course of anti biotics may help in the short term. If your dog will allow it squeeze out anything that is ready to burst prior to soaking the feet in the salt solution

NAILS: It is very important that nails are kept short either through regular road walking or clipping. Nails that are left to grow too long are uncomfortable for the dog and it may be painful for him to walk. Be aware that cutting long front nails may encourage interdigital cysts as the pressure on the feet is altered.

Dew claws that are left to grow may grow back into the leg of the dog or may catch in things and be ripped out.

Be careful not to cut through the quick of the nail (the pink part), this area is especially hard to see if the nails are black. Cutting through the quick will bleed heavily but looks worse than it is and will stop although will be painful for the dog and will be sore for a while aftewards.