Oh the weather outside is frightful… As you stumble behind your eager pup in your protective winter gear, just imagine those daily winter walks barefoot! Your feet would need some serious winter-proofing, and that’s just what your dog’s feet need.
People often overlook winter paw care unless they have a hard-core working dog or a competitive sled dog, but any dog that braves the elements needs some special grooming attention to nails, paw pads, and excess hair growth around the feet when temperatures drop and precipitation gets icy. Even tiny toy dogs who don’t much care for the snow (you’ve seen them lift up their dainty paws in disdain) need winter foot care. Here’s what you need to know to keep those pretty paws healthy all winter long.
1. Keep Nails Short. In the winter, when dogs aren’t out walking on bare cement, nail growth may seem to accelerate because nails aren’t getting worn down. That means regular, diligent nail trimming is in order
When your dog is standing, his nails should be short, and should not touch the floor. [link to How to Cut Your Dog’s Nails article] Before you start trimming, be sure you have a nail trimmer [link to nail trimmers in catalog] that is the appropriate size for your dog, and a jar of kwik stop or a similar product that will stop bleeding if you accidentally cut the quick.
2. Trim Those Tootsies. Dogs with long or curly coats tend to grow a lot of hair on their feet, and also between their paw pads. While hairy feet might sound warmer, dogs outside in the snow and ice will get balls of ice caught in that hair and wedged between paw pads and toes, causing irritation and even injury. The most winter-worthy feet are neatly trimmed of stray hair, both around the top and between the paw pads.
3. Protect Paw Pads. Unlike regular skin, paw pads are tough and leathery, like the soles of your leather shoes. They are built to protect dogs’ feet in the elementsBut ice and snow can be hard on a domesticated dog’s paws, and when you add wet sand, rock salt, and other de-icing chemicals to the mix, even the toughest paw pads can get dry, cracked, irritated, and even infected. But you can help your dog’s paw pads stay strong in several ways.
First, before you take your dog outside in the winter weather, protect his paw pads with a product such as Musher’s Secret [link to product in catalog]. Protective paw-pad products contain moisturizers and waxes that keep water and snow, sand, salt, and chemicals from direct contact with paw pads. Just rub a little bit on paw pads before going out into the elements, and your dog will enjoy cleaner, dryer feet, even if he isn’t a sled dog.
Second, every time you and your dog take a walk in the winter weather, wipe your dog’s feet well with a dry cloth when you come back inside. [link to towels in catalog] This does more than keep your dog from leaving snowy or muddy footprints on your carpet. It also removes moisture and other irritants from paw pads.
Finally, consider dog boots. [link to catalog] No, they aren’t just for the fashion-conscious. Dog boots have a utilitarian function. They keep your dog’s paws warm, dry, and protected from snow, ice, and other winter hazards.
