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Paw care before, during, and after
Condition the pads
Plan paw protection for the route rather than trying to toughen pads on rough or hot ground. AKC advises keeping nails maintained. Pain, cuts or limping need veterinary advice, not more conditioning.
Boots: a tool, not a default
Choose a boot for the specific conditions and measure for fit. Introduce it gradually with positive practice at home, as AKC advises. Do not hike on dangerous heat, or put a painful or injured paw into a boot as a substitute for veterinary care.
The rest-stop habit
At every water break, run a fast check: look over each pad and between toes for tenderness, seeds, thorns and pebbles, and clear ice balls in winter. Thirty seconds here can catch a problem while it's still small. A dog who starts favoring a foot or licking a paw mid-hike is asking for this check now, not at the car.
The post-hike check and simple care
At home: wash paws to remove irritants (especially after mud, salt, or algae-prone water), inspect pads and between toes under good light, and look for the start of splits, blisters or embedded seeds. Don't try to pull out embedded objects - the AVMA's first-aid guidance leaves those, and any bandaging you're unsure of, to the vet. Cuts, swelling, discharge or limping are also questions for your vet: call rather than treating or waiting them out at home. Paw balm or wax can help dry, rough pads between seasons.