4 Ways To Prevent Paw Pad Injuries In The Winter
Winter can be a challenging time for your pet's paw pads. Trekking through rain, snow, and cold weather can put their paws at risk for injury. Luckily, there are simple steps you can take to protect them and prevent paw pad injuries.
1. Avoid prolonged contact with deicers
One of the most common threats to your pet's paws is the salt used to melt ice on roadways, driveways, and sidewalks. Extended contact with these deicers can lead to chemical burns on a dog's paws. If your dog is limping toward the end of a walk, deicing products may be hurting their feet — if possible, get your dog off the salty sidewalk and onto grass or snow. After a walk, towel off or clean your dog's paws, and check for redness between the toes and cracks in the pads.
2. Keep pad hair trimmed
Another common cause of sore feet in winter is ice balls that form between the toes and pads of a hairy-footed dog. To reduce the risk, keep the inter-pad hair neatly trimmed and shorter during winter. Shorter hair minimizes ice and chemical build-up in your dog's paws.
3. Do not leave your dog in the cold
This one seems self-explanatory, but just like leaving a dog in a hot car in summer, leaving your dog in the cold isn't advisable. Prolonged cold puts your dog at greater risk for frostbite in the ears, tail, and paws, as well as hypothermia. Taking your dog on more frequent short walks is better than one long walk in winter. If you think your dog may have frostbite or hypothermia, take them to the vet immediately.
4. Use dog booties
Dog booties aren't just a fashion accessory — they serve an important purpose. You can buy them or make them yourself, and though they may look silly, they can prevent paw injuries. With a little patience, you can teach your dog to like having their paws covered: make sure your dog is comfortable having their paws handled, then slowly introduce one booty at a time for short periods, giving treats so they associate the booties with good things. Once they're comfortable wearing all four inside, try the front yard, then work up to winter walks.
Winter weather doesn't mean your dog has to miss out on playing outdoors. Paw injuries can lead to infection and distress, so these tips should help keep your dog happy and healthy through the season.
About FlexPet: FlexPet is a joint supplement for dogs built around CM8® (cetyl myristoleate) — made in the USA and trusted since 1999. See what makes CM8® different →