NORTHEAST Ohio in winter – it is cold. Very, very cold. The daily walkies for you and your beloved dog suddenly become rather shorter than normal.
While you wrap up warm and pull on the boots ready for the stroll and your pet pooch to do their business, remember your dog will feel the cold too.
And this is especially true through their feet – their paw pads are in direct contact with the frozen ground.
The freezing temperatures, coupled with salt, snow, and ice can cause your dog much discomfort, so it is vital to give your dog the protection for its feet that you give your own.
Not doing so can cause all sorts of problems, not just an unpleasantly cold walk – the pads easily become dried out and sore, and your dog will try to help itself by licking its paws, meaning it is ingesting all sorts of chemicals in the salt used to keep our roads, sidewalks, and drives clear of ice.
Fortunately, it is not hard to protect your dog’s paws, so walkies are still fun, as well as necessary.
The best method is to simply do what we do – pop on a pair of boots. Or rather, two pairs in your dog’s case.
Different breeds of dog have a different natural resistance to the cold weather as some feel it much more acutely than others, but regardless, booties made for your dog will keep their feet cully covered, warm, and shielded from salt and chemicals.
Make sure you get your canine the right size of bootie – simply measure from the back of the heel to the tip of the toenail, and your pooch will be perfectly protected from the harsh winter weather.
If booties are a fashion no-no for your dog, then use paw balm to provide a protective layer between the paw pad and the ground. Just as we use lotions on our hands, so a good balm on your pup’s paws keeps their pad skin soft and moisturized. Make sure you thoroughly rub the balm in before a walk, and then again on your return indoors to reduce the damage caused by salt and prevent dry skin.
Balms are easily bought at any good pet store and can even be homemade.
Coupled with using balms, make sure an old towel is nearby the door of your home so you can give your dog’s paws a thorough wipe down when you get back from walkies, removing any ice, snow, and salt they picked up. It is worth giving your dog’s feet a wash with some warm water and a good towel drying to ensure their feet are clean and dry.
Finally, keep walks short. Your dog will probably encourage you in this regard anyway as if it is too cold for us it is far too cold for them, and too long outside in freezing temperatures risks frostbite – they may well want a coat on too.
Visit our website to schedule an appointment so we can make sure your pup is staying safe and healthy!