How to protect dog’s paws in the snow and why paw care is so important.
Come rain, sun, snow, or ice your dog enjoys being with you, but a question that's often asked when it comes to the winter months is, ‘are my dog’s paws ok in the snow?’
Jitka, a dog mum to 5 adventurous terriers, winner of international dog grooming competitions, including Dog Grooming Salon of the Year shares her winter paw care advice in this blog
Jitka writes;
WINTER PAW CARE
Dog paw care is extremely important because a dog’s paws take the impact of their
entire body weight. Making sure that they stay healthy is a must.
How do we do this?
1) Keep their nails short
2) Trim the hair between the pads
3) Check regularly for any irritations, dryness, and cracks
It helps to have Calming Floral Spray and treats on hand so that their paw care is a
a positive experience for both you and your pet.
Our dogs can suffer from the same problem on their paws just as we can
suffer from sore, dry cracks on our hands or feet.
If your dog has particularly dry paws, why not give this sea salt and coconut oil scrub
a try!
1 tablespoon of coconut oil
1 teaspoon of sea salt
Simply mix them well and use them!
1/ Wash your dog’s feet really well
2/ Apply the scrub with gentle circulatory movements and massage in
3/ Rinse with warm water
By using Paw Butter which is deeply moisturising and nourishing, you’ll help to
create a barrier on your dog’s paws. This semi-solid whipped butter with essential
oils is formulated for dry cracked paws, noses, and elbows. 100% natural, vegan,
and cruelty-free, Paw Butter has a pleasant earthy aroma, is lick-safe, and contains
no synthetic ingredients and fragrances.
"LickiMats and filled enrichment toys are great for occupying your dog whilst you clean and check their paws "
Pause and think of paws
At this time of the year, we should pay more attention to our dog’s paws.
In the winter months, the roads and footpaths will be covered with salt and
grit.
How would you feel walking with your bare feet that have a few cracks on your heels
on salty (never mind cold) roads?
Small, delicate doggies, such as the Chihuahua and other toy breeds are known for
their sensitive paws.
Just the same, lean dogs, like Greyhounds, Whippets, and
similar breeds are also more likely to have sensitive paws.
On the other hand, dogs like Alaskan Malamutes, Siberian Huskies, Spitz-like dogs,
and Pastoral breeds have paws that are hardier and more ’outdoors’.
Although this
is true, we should still keep an eye on their paws too.
Ouch!
If you’ve ever had cracked skin on your hands, you know how it feels if you have to
wash dishes, do housework or bathe your dog. Now imagine putting salt on your
cracked hand… OUCH!
It stings because the salt dissolves, which causes the fluid
surrounding the damaged tissue to become extremely hypertonic, which means that
the concentration of salt and other electrolytes is higher than it is in normal body
fluids.
Pain detecting neurons have their receptors in the tissue. And they respond to
the stimulus i.e. the hypertonic fluid surrounding the damaged tissue.
Irritating chemicals
It’s not only the salt that bothers our dogs’ feet.
The various chemicals and sand added to the salt, providing us with more friction for our boots and cars, also contribute. These chemicals act as skin irritants and can cause dryness, irritating the skin between their pads
As if that isn’t enough what about liked paws?
If your dog takes to licking his paws after walks on this surface, he can digest the ice-melting chemicals, which can be toxic!
Wash, wipe & check
You can see why it’s very important to wash or wipe your dog’s feet as soon as you get
home from a walk.
Remove the salt and other chemicals from your dog’s paws as
soon as possible.
Do this before they have a chance to lick them!
After a thorough wash, check your dog’s paws and pads for cracks, minor cuts, and
even small particles of salt or gravel stuck in his hair or in between his pads.
If you find any scratches or scrapes, an application of Vita Canis Soothing Antiseptic
Spray can help.
This is an antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and antiseptic treatment that relieves
scratches, minor wounds, and hot spots. It regenerates damaged skin, doesn’t sting,
and is safe for sensitive and allergy-prone skin.
Enjoy!
Although this might all sound scary, please don’t let it deter you from walking your
dog and enjoying the time together.
Come rain, sun, snow, or ice your furry friend will
appreciate your attention and the exercise whatever the weather.
For more information please read ‘How to clean your puppy’s paws and 5 reasons why you should after every walk’
You can also find more grooming tips from Jitka on the Vita Canis Blog