We all know that winter can cause some serious problems for your dog’s paws. The cold weather and wind alone are enough to cause discomfort, but worse yet, as our roads and sidewalks are treated to protect us, our canine friends are at risk of absorbing these toxic chemicals in their paws. Dog’s paw beds, while seemingly tough, can easily dry up and crack from salt exposure, and even get hit with nasty chemical burns. Fortunately, you don’t have to keep your dog from enjoying the snow- as there are measures you can take to make sure your dog is pawsitively protected!
Consider a protective balm-
Currently, there are many protective balms on the market that are available to help protect your dogs paws, and even some human products can work. If you are DYI savvy, there are even some great recipes to making your own,all natural dog paw balm, we recommend this easy and effective recipe online. It is important to do some research and read lots of reviews! Once you have your balm, here are a few simple steps to follow.
First, make sure the paws are ready! For many dogs, and for long-haired dogs in particular, a little extra grooming is essential for healthy winter paws. If you get your dog regularly groomed, ask your groomer to make special care to trim back the excess fur that grows around their feet and in particular, in between their paw pads. If you groom your dog yourself, use a beard trimmer with the shortest plastic guard equipped or some baby scissors to trim the hair around the paws. Basically, you want to make sure that none of their fur is dragging on the ground, as this will prevent ice, snow and salt from sticking to their feet and forming clumps. It is also important to keep their nails nicely trimmed and short, as long nails splay out once they contact the ground, and thus it is easier for ice and snow to get trapped in them. Once your dogs paws are free of excessive fur and their nails are clipped you can apply a thin and even layer of balm before each walk. It is important to rub off the balm using a nice warm cloth once indoors, and then add a layer of protective balm ( vaseline or coconut oil work great) after to ensure the paws remain healthy and protected.
Dog boots are also a great option -
While it is true that many dogs tend not to like wearing boots at first, a little preliminary work should help them ease into the idea. We suggest first putting the boots on your dog for short periods of time in the house and giving lots of praise ( and even a reward!) each time they wear them. You can then gradually increase the length of time they wear them so they become accustomed to wearing them for longer walks outdoors.
Dog boots are readily available online and in pet stores and come in a variety of types and sizes. Many consist of a sock like boot, and a Velcro strap. Make sure the material is durable and water resistant, and be careful to get the right size- too tight and the dogs paw will feel constricted and uncomfortable, and too loose, and they are likely to kick them off or lose them.
Walking in a winter wonderland-
Yes, winter can be tough on our dog’s feet but good grooming and protecting the paws by using a balm or booties will go a long way to keeping your dog’s feet healthy. Wherever possible, try to keep your dog from walking directly in areas where salt and chemicals have been heavily used. It is also very important not to let your dog eat slush or drink from puddles near these heavily treated roads and sidewalks.
And while exposure to salt and most de-icers can be quite toxic to our canine friends remember, there are natural alternatives! Do your research to find non-toxic alternatives wherever possible, doing so will not only benefit your dog, but other animals and wildlife as well.
