No matter how brutal the weather, your four-legged friends need to get out. When you take them out, you should protect your feet with socks and boots. Dogs do have a nice warm coat of fur but their feet and pads are still sensitive to the snow and ice. They can suffer from frostbite or get bits of ice melt lodged in between the pads. Taking the proper precautions will protect your dog’s sensitive paws.
Dog Booties
You wear winter boots. Now your dog can too. They come in a variety of sizes to suit any breed. If your dog wears a winter coat or sweater, you can probably get booties to match the color of the jacket.
Paw Wax
Dogs pulling sleds in the Iditarod or as part of their owners’ lifestyle would wear through booties far too quickly to be economical. If your dog doesn’t like boots or you’d prefer not to deal with them, try paw wax. Professional mushers use it. It’s easy to apply to dog pads and protects them from the cold and ice without the hassle of booties.
Wipe Paws
After trekking through the snow and ice and blazing a trail to their favorite bathroom spots, your dog will be happy to get home where it’s warm. As will you. Before settling in front of the fire to get warm, take a few minutes to wipe your dog’s paws. Be sure to get in between the pads. Snow can clump and become trapped between them. If you don’t remove it, your dog may injure himself trying to remove them with his teeth.
Properly caring for your dog’s feet in the snow and ice helps them feel more comfortable and prevents injury or other problems. As a member of your family, your dog’s feet matter as much as yours – even Bart knows that and he’s never met you! These three tips are great ways to insure their paws are protected. What other ideas have you used to protect your dog’s feet?
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