Author: Ellie Burgess

For some of us, cold weather is regarded as an annoyance, for others, it’s a fun time filled with snowboarding, skiing and other winter joys; and still others will find this time of bone-chilling weather and huge piles of snow a real nightmare to endure. Whatever your point of view on winter is, one thing remains the same for all of us with pets, it’s a time when our fur babies need a little extra care.  With frigid temperatures and heavy snowfall, the first few months of the year can be tough for your dog, making it easy for them to catch the winter blues. Following are some tips and ideas to keep your dog safe, healthy and happy during the cold snow weather season.

Winter has arrived and this weather-related season can wreak havoc on your dog’s paw pads. As a dog walker with Waggin’ Tails Pet Services located in Port Perry Ontario, I try to prevent paw pad injuries by following some basic dog paw care tips and the use of products designed for paw protection.

How To Prevent Paw Pad Injuries

One of the biggest threats to healthy paw pads is the salt used to melt ice on driveways, roads and sidewalks. If you dog’s pads are exposed to prolonged contact with deicers that can lead to chemical burns on their paws. If your dog is limping toward the end of a walk, deicing products may be

hurting his feet.  I have seen this with my own dog and dog’s that I walk as a dog walker in Port Perry, Durham Region.  Whenever possible, get your dog off the salty sidewalk and into the grass or snow for walking.

Another common concern for sore paws during the cold winter months are the ice balls which form between the pads and toes of hairy-footed dog.    To help reduce these pesky ice balls, try to keep the hair trimmed and short during the winter months. Not only can hairy feet contribute to the development of ice balls on the feet, paw hair can keep hold of a lot of those nasty deicing salts.

It is never a good idea to leave dogs exposed to the cold .  If they are left for long periods of time they are also at risk for frostbite on paws (and other extremities – ears, tail, etc.) and hypothermia. In winter, more frequent short walks are better for your dog than a single long walk. If you suspect your dog has hypothermia or frostbite, get him to a vet right away!

Products For Protecting Dog Paws

There are many products on the market designed to protect dog paw pads during the winter month, from “pet safe” deicing products to protective waxes and dog booties.

Dry winter air can also contribute to the drying and cracking of dog paws. I found this product from Pet Smart  called  Muttluks Pawmagik Paw Protection Cream.  Applying a thin layer daily or every other day should help keep your dog’s paws from cracking and bleeding.

Musher’s Secret is one of the most popular paw waxes. Paw wax is applied to the pads of the feet before a walk.  It forms a protective barrier between the paw and the salty sidewalk or pavement.  It can also be used during the summer time when the dog’s paws are exposed to a lot of sand. Paw wax will wear away after extended exercise, so it should be reapplied before each walk or activity when required.

The best protection for your dog’s paws and pads are dog booties. Just as wearing boots in the winter protects your pads, dog booties will prevent injury to your dog’s feet. Dog boots can protect your dog’s paws from salt, ice balls, and cutting his pads on sharp items that may be hidden under the snow or sharp ice. Proper sizing of dog booties is especially important in ensuring that the booties are comfortable for your dog to wear and maximize paw protection. Your dog may not want to wear the booties at first but over time you can train them to love them.  Try and get him used to human contact with his feet first and once he is comfortable with this introduce him to one boot at a time.  Eventually you will be able to work your way up to all four booties and he will see these boots are a good thing.

Another threat from deicers is ingestion. Dogs may lick their paws or your boots and ingest deicing salts. Keep a towel close to the entry door of your home so when you are coming in from the cold you can wipe their paws and your boots.  This will help to prevent your dog from ingesting deicing salts.

For those hard to remove ice salts use a bowl of warm water and a soft cloth.

Visit  Waggin’ Tails Pet Services  for more helpful information and services that are offered.

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