Taking care of your dog's paws during wintery spells

Winter & very cold spells can be tough on fragile paws. Hard snow on the snow, ice and frozen ground can wear down the otherwise soft pads. If you live in a city where salt is used against slippery conditions in winter, the salt can, create cracks in paws that irritate and bother a dog. Fortunately, you can prevent and deal with the problems quite easily if you detect them early enough. A daily check of paws and paw pads is recommended.

Checklist for paw care in winter

• Cut the fur shorter between the paw pads and around the paw
• Feel free to wipe the paws clean/dry with a towel
• Keep the claws in good condition
• Lubricate the dog's paws with a greasy paw ointment if necessary
• Rinse the paws clean with water if you have walked on salted roads
• If the dog has problems with cracks in their paws, shoes can be an option

Preventive paw care for the dog

Well-groomed paws have better conditions to withstand the elements. If you have a dog with a lot of fur around and in between their paws, you should groom regularly. This way, the dog avoids gathering ice lumps between the paw pads and the paws dry faster.

Also feel free to wipe each paw with a towel when returning and be sure to get a good grip between the toes. This prevents both the paws from developing fungus from the moisture and your floor from getting completely wet.

Also, make sure to keep the claws in good condition by regularly trimming them. Claws which are too long can get stuck and cause the dog injury.

Lubricate your dog's paws with paw ointment

If your dog has dry paws, you can lubricate the pads of the paws with a greasy ointment to prevent cracking problems. The paw ointment is water-repellent and prevents the worst snow and ice from getting stuck between the toes. Remember to lubricate each paw before you plan to go out in snow so that the ointment has time to penetrate the skin.

There is a risk that the dog will lick all the ointment off the paws, so keep a treat near to act as a distraction.

Does your dog start limping during a winter walk?

If you walk on salted roads, it is better to rinse off the salt when returning rather than to dry with a towel as there is a risk that the salt will not disappear. The road salt dries out the pads of the feet and if the salt gets into cracks in the paws, it can also sting - if the dog suddenly becomes lame on the walk, road salt can be the culprit.

If you have a dog that has major problems with cracks in their paws or suffers from cold cramps when the temperature drops, dog shoes can be an option. There are both simple plastic models that keep moisture away and slightly more robust models that keep the paws warm.

Just the right amount of winter exercise

It's great to exercise with your dog outdoors in the winter landscape, but remember that it can be difficult for dogs in deep snow, especially if their legs are short. In deep snow there is a risk that the dog's spurs will be damaged when the paw disappears in the snow, so be extra careful. If your dog is short-haired, it is more likely that it will start to freeze and may need both shoes and a duvet. Adapt any outdoor activity to the dog's condition and ability.