Protecting Your Dog’s Paws During The Winter
This post is from a suggestion we received a few weeks ago. We have never put much thought into it before. We have heard about dog booties and the importance of caring for sledding dogs, especially during competitions such as the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. We never put much thought into it for our dogs.
A quick search on Google returned more than enough hits to keep someone busy reading for a few hours. I included links to the first seven results, not including ads. All seven were pretty close to saying the same thing. As I was getting started on this blog I realized not a single page I listed talked about sledding dogs. The one group that has depended foot care more than any other group and most likely pioneered dog foot care. Back to Google for another search. Guess what they had to say? When it comes down specifically to foot care it was a close match to every other article I had read, with one big exception
All the other articles missed a very big point, the overall health of your dog and how their needs change during winter. Granted most sled live their lives outside, but don’t we want the best for our loyal companions?
Preparation
- Keep the fur between their pads trimmed. This will help keep ice clumps from building up.
- Keep their toenails trimmed.
- Inspect their paws, including around the pads and between their toes.
- Treat their paws with a moisturizing balm.
- Check the outside temperature. If it is too cold for you then it is to cold for your dog. Dogs are susceptible to frostbite and hypothermia just as we are.
- Us proper fitting booties.
- Shorten your dog walks.
Post Care
- Wash, dry, and inspect.
- Treat their paws with a moisturizing balm. Winter alone can dry out their pads. Salt and chemical de-icers can accelerate the drying process.
Conclusion
A little common sense goes a long way. If you are cold and miserable, what must your dog be feeling? We get dry skin and chapped lips. What must their feet be going through with contact possible toxic salt and chemical de-icers.
Keep their paws clean, neat, and trimmed. Treat their pads with a moisturizing balm. With just those simple steps causal excursions outside should be enjoyable for both you and your dog. Longer trips into the snowy outdoors you should take more time preparing your dog’s feet.
Dehydration is as much of a problem in not more, than in the summer. That applies both to our canine friends and ourselves. It is not hot so we do not see the need to drink as much! Make sure you both get the proper amount of hydration.
Additional Reading
- Winter Proofing Your Dog’s Paws
- Protecting Your Dog’s Feet in Winter
- How to protect your dog’s paws in the Winter
- 5 Ways to Protect Your Dog’s Paws in Winter
- 7 tips on how to protect dog paws from winter and snow
- Winter Paw Care: How To Protect Your Dog’s Feet
- 9 Tips on How to Protect Your Dog’s Paws in Winter
- How to Care for Sled Dogs
Mark
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