Winter can be a hard time on our paws. While I may live inside with my Lady, I don't stay inside all day. I gotta go out to do my business, chase a rogue squirrel, or maybe I just wanna go to the mailbox with my Lady. This means that special attention needs to be taken to care for my paws. Actually, around here, we got 40 paws in our pack to deal with! Winter paw care for dogs doesn't have to be hard and we appreciate our paws feelin' good! WOOF!
Winter Paw Care for Dogs
Nail Trims
One of my least favorite things is to have my toe nails trimmed, but it's a necessary evil to keep my paws healthy and not cause problems walkin' on ice and snow.
My Lady also keeps the fur between my paw pads trimmed to be sure snow and ice doesn't cling and hurt me.
Cleaning and Salve
Groomin' can prevent harm, but very cold winter days can mean I need extra time before goin' outside.
Puttin' a salve on my pads before a walk will help protect my paws.
And when I come in again, my Lady is very good about wipin' my paws.
I don't love it, but I know I need it.
She uses a warm damp cloth to remove any salt that may be out there for the ice, and a very soft dry cloth to make sure I am dry.
Sometimes, she puts a salve on them when I come back in.
We have some homemade paw balm and then sometimes she uses a salve called Kelp Balm.
It's safe if I lick it and it makes my paws feel right nice!
My Lady always looks my paws over real good for remainin' salt, cracks in the pads, or any other injury whilst she's rubbin' it on.
Dog Boots!
I understand that all of this winter paw care for dogs could be avoided.
I hear some dogs in arctic climates like another method of protection.
What is it? Boots! That's right!
Some human folk buy their dogs boots. Umm!
In my neck of the woods, I've never seen such a thing!
But, perhaps some of my canine friends might like em.
There's probably some canine fashionistas who would enjoy showin' off a great boot, but for me - I'll stick with the tried and true lovin' care of my Lady!
I'm kinda partial to them paw messages! WOOF!
Amy M says
My beast refuses to wear shoes, but she's a total drama queen about cold paws. We've found that paw wax helps a lot, too!
Karen Beckett says
It's very important to take super good care of our furry babies!! Good tips!
deanna brucker says
This is very interesting and helpful to new dog owners. Thanks for the awesome tips. PS loved it was "wrote by Dog"
Anita k says
This will be most helpful for our three babies,thanks for the share.
JIll H says
I'm glad we don't have salt around for the doggies feet, but this salve sounds like a good idea.
Michele Ash says
Thanks for the Terrific Review, Miss Molly, on Winter Paw Care for Dogs! I can see how the hair in their pads could pick up snow and may hurt them! My 2 babies come inside from the snow with snow balls all over them! They love the snow and run through it and jump, etc. I always make sure to wipe them down from head to toe when they come in from the outside! They get their nail trims regularly. I never thought about rubbing their feet and checking them out either! Thanks, Miss Molly, for that important tip! My problem is that my girls do not like their feet touched! I know that they won't run into any areas that have salt on them because the salt is for the front of the house and the girls go out back into the yard. When they come in from outside, the both of them sit and lick their paws (they have a habit of doing it even if they aren't wet!) Thanks again for the Terrific Review and the information that you have shared with all of us about keeping our pets winter paws cared for! I honestly do appreciate it! Thanks again, Michele 🙂
Rita Spratlen says
I have a bichon and it is so hard to trim those nails all the time. A few of the nails are black and it is hard to tell where that blood line is. They seem to grow so fast too! When he has had his teeth cleaned I have had them cut back but the blood line still seems to stay where it is and they appear longer than they should be. We don't want to hurt him!! Why do we have to cut the nails and who designed this anyway!!!!!
Shannon says
I have been hearing a lot of good things about the dog boots. That sounds like a great product and I will keep it mind, thank you for sharing.
Trina Flynn says
I have little booties for my yorkies but a couple of them will stand in one place until I remove them 🙂 I use a special lotion/salve for their bottom of their paws it helps protect them. I also never let my babies out in the snowy winter for very long. When they do go out we have a big section nicely clean so they can go potty and come right back in.
vickie couturier says
some really awesome tips,,my dog doesn't like for anyone to touch his feet but we do anyway,,usually its a 2 person job
Sally T. says
I would definitely give this a try.I used to wash my dogs paws off,and even
tried boots for her~she liked neither.Unfortunately,the summer is no better
for dogs paws when walking on hot sidewalks.
Thanks for all of your great tips.
Michelle Schafer says
Living in south TX now I don't have to worry about that. We lived in PA for years and had to deal with cold paws:(
KateV says
My dogs occasionally wear boots in the winter. In Upstate NY, the snow can get several feet deep and temperatures can often get down to more than 20 degrees below zero. The boots are not fashion statements- they're necessary to keep their paws safe! I only use them when I feel it's necessary, and I have found a type that the dogs have decided they can put up with, so it works for us.
Angela Hendricks says
Great post! I honestly never thought about this! I have two dogs, which from here on out will be getting salve for the pads before we go outside to help protect them!
Ashley C says
I've thought about going the boots option -- but, I have a five year old, 100 pound, golden retriever and I just don't think he'd let me do that. Though I have put socks on him and he's walked around in the house with them.
Definitely going to be checking out the salve in case there's any issues during the winter.