During the winter season, dog paws require extra care. They are exposed to extreme weather conditions, having to endure frosty temperatures, snow, and road salt. However, with the right care measures, your furry friend’s paws can make it through winter unscathed. We’ll share tips on how to prepare and protect your dog’s paws optimally for the cold season.
How does winter harm dog paws?
Dog paws have to endure a lot, especially in winter. Frosty temperatures, snow, and road salt can severely affect your dog’s paws. Without protection, gravel, and the like can cause:
- Road salt dries out the paw pads, leading to cracks.
- Sharp-edged gravel injures the paw pads.
- Road salt penetrates into the cracked and injured skin.
- The paws become painful.
- Your dog avoids walking.
Tip:
In the worst case, the injuries can be so severe that you need to take your furry friend to the vet for treatment. If you have dog health insurance, it will cover the treatment costs.
5 Tips: How to protect dog paws from road salt, snow, and ice
You can do a lot for your dog’s paws before a winter walk. With the right care, ice, road salt, and snow won’t harm them. Some dogs may need more care than others, especially those with sensitive skin that often walk on salted paths due to limited alternatives on forest and field trails.
Tip 1: Prefer shorter but more frequent walks:
During frost and snow, opt for shorter but more frequent walks. It’s better for your furry friend than taking a long walk every day. The advantage is that the dog’s paws are not exposed to the cold for too long, allowing them to regenerate between walks. Avoid salted paths whenever possible. Refrain from walking on ice-covered sidewalks and frozen water bodies. Your dog could slip and suffer severe injuries.
Tip 2: Paw balm protects and nurtures the paw pads:
Use special care products to protect your dog’s paws from moisture, dirt, and road salt. It’s best to apply paw balm before going for a walk. Using products like deer tallow, lanolin, or coconut oil will nurture the paws and keep them supple. This reduces the risk of cracks in the paw pads, providing less opportunity for gravel, road salt, and small stones to cause harm.
Avoid using vaseline and tea tree oil. Since dogs like to lick their paws, they could ingest both. Due to their ingredients, these substances are unsuitable for dogs.
Tip 3: Trim Fur Between the Pads:
Especially in winter, long fur between the paw pads can cause problems for the dog while walking because snow can stick and clump. This can lead to painful inflammations and infections. Therefore, you should trim the fur between the pads carefully with rounded scissors to prevent injuries. Alternatively, have the fur trimmed by a professional. This reduces the risk of snow, road salt, and dirt getting stuck, causing pain to your dog.
Tip 4: Claw Care:
Additionally, pay attention to the claws as they provide traction on any surface. This is a crucial prerequisite for the correct stepping and rolling of the paws, forming the basis for a healthy musculoskeletal system. Have the claws trimmed by a vet to ensure that the pads are not overstrained. Important: Only undertake claw trimming yourself if you are confident in doing so, as there are blood vessels in that area that can be injured and cause pain with improper handling.
When are the claws too long?
You can easily check if your dog’s claws are too long. When standing upright, the claws should not touch the ground. Or do you hear a clicking sound when your dog walks on tiles or parquet? Then, his claws are definitely too long.
Tip 5: Dog Boots for Very Sensitive Paws:
For very sensitive or already damaged paws, you can also use dog boots. Admittedly, they may look unusual, but they provide excellent protection for dog paws against cold, ice, snow, and road salt. However, it is possible that your furry friend may reject wearing paw boots. Simply try out different models. It’s worth a shot. Of course, you should never force your furry friend to wear them.
Paw Care After Winter Walks with the Dog
Proper care of the dog’s paws is essential even after the walk. Check the paw pads and spaces between the toes for small stones and other foreign objects and remove them. You can also do this during the walk. Especially if your furry friend stops in between, it may be uncomfortable or even painful for them. However, do not forcibly remove frozen ice clumps; instead, warm them with your hands to melt them.
Dogs also tend to lick their paws. The intake of residual road salt can lead to gastrointestinal problems. Protect your dog by rinsing his paws with lukewarm water or giving them a paw bath after the walk. This gentle method will remove the salt residues. Pay particular attention to the spaces between the toes, as this is where ice, gravel, and dirt like to accumulate. After cleaning, gently dry the paws with a towel. If necessary, you can apply a cream afterwards. It nourishes the pads and provides moisture. Additionally, your dog gets to enjoy a massage.
What to do if the paws are already cracked or injured?
Despite all care measures, your dog may still have problems with his paws. You can usually tell if your furry friend licks his paws unusually often or stops frequently during walks and refuses to continue. Gently feel the paws yourself. You can treat minor wounds/injuries or cracks yourself. Apply a disinfecting paw protection cream based on deer tallow, arnica, or propolis. For splinters between the toes, severe inflammations, or deep cuts, always consult a vet.
Our Conclusion on Paw Care in Winter
Generally, a dog’s paws are very robust. However, in winter, they require more attention because gravel, road salt, and snow pose higher demands. With regular care measures, you can prepare your furry friend and his paws well for winter.
Key Care Measures at a Glance:
- Avoid road salt as much as possible.
- Rub paws with balm before the walk.
- Trim fur around the paws.
- Trim claws.
- During the walk, remove foreign objects if necessary or try out paw boots.
- After the walk, clean paws in a water bath, thoroughly dry, and apply balm.
