Winter Paw Care for Your Dog

Well, winter has finally arrived now.  It was a slow start but recently we have been experiencing cold weather and snow.  I thought this would be an appropriate time to remind everyone about the importance of taking care of your dog's paws during the winter months.

Your dog may love playing in the snow all day, but keep in mind that the skin on their paws is completely exposed.  Besides the fact that their paws can become chapped and crack, rock salt and chemical de-icers are also very irritating.  If you dog is walking on ground which is frequently treated with these, they may experience sore pads, infection, or blistering.  Not only are the chemicals harmful to their paws, but they can also be toxic when ingested, causing diarrhea and vomiting.

To prevent this, make sure you remove any snow or ice that builds up on your dog and wash their paws with warm water after they are outdoors.  After their paws have been cleaned you can apply Vaseline to the pads on their feet which will help prevent the chapping, cracking, and soreness.

It is also a good idea to trim any hair from between the dog's toes and not let it hang below the foot pad.  Additionally, be sure to keep their nails trimmed, because long nails will cause their toes to separate when walking, allowing ice and salt to become trapped between them.  Need help with this?  Give us a call, our professional groomers can trim up their hair and nails in just moments.

In addition to keeping your dog clean and well-groomed, make sure you are using pet safe salt around your home!  Safe Paw Ice Melter is a salt-free ice-melter which is pet and child safe!  Don't have any at home? 

Stop by Best Friends in Bethany and pick some up!