Winter Paw & Skin Care Tips
The cold winter weather can be brutal on your poor pup’s health. Leaving your regular routine unchanged could lead to putting your dog in extreme discomfort, sickness, and even injury. Be prepared during this cold season and follow these helpful tips!
Prepare Your Pup’s Paws in Advance
Before heading out into the cold, ice, and even snow, there are a few steps you should take in protecting your dog’s paws from the harsh elements. There are plenty of different balms as well as simple petroleum jelly you can apply to protect their paw pads from ice, salt, and chemicals. But, before even applying a balm you need to ensure your pup’s paws are in healthy shape. Proper grooming, such as trimming hair and clipping nails, are necessary to avoid any injury. Trimming the hair in between their toes will prevent painful iceballs from forming that could extreme discomfort. Letting your furry friend’s nails grow out will force their paws to spread out when standing up, this will increase the accumulation of snow, ice, and salt to form between their toes causing pain.
Be Cautious of Salt & De-Icers
During these colder months, ice and snow are going to be a regular occurrence. Because of this, you’ll notice salt and de-icers spread throughout the sidewalks and streets to keep people from slipping and sliding. Now, even though this does help us stay safe, it is not safe for your poor pup. Salt and de-icers can be extremely toxic to your playful pooch. Try to avoid heavily treated areas and for your own personal walkways, you can discover pet-friendly de-icers that you could encourage your neighbors to use as well. After going on your daily walk you should always carefully wash your dog’s paws to prevent them from licking and digesting the dangerous substances. With this being said, you should also stop your pup from licking up any snow or puddles incase they have been contaminated.
Ways Keep Your Furry Friend Warm
Whenever arriving home have a dry towel ready to remove any ice or water that may have accumulated on your dog, paying special attention to their paws and in between their toes. If you can, try to keep your home humidified to decrease the chance of your pup developing dry and itchy skin. You may think it looks silly sometimes, but dressing your pup in a sweater or coat is extremely helpful in maintaining their body heat, keeping them healthy happy and warm. Doggy booties are also a great way to minimize your dog’s discomfort to the cold. Booties will also decrease their chances of contact with salt, ice, anti-freeze, and other chemicals that can cause discomort as well as being poisonous.
Their Grooming Should Be Different
There are many regular grooming activities that you’ll want to switch up particularly for winter. During these colder months, you will want to decrease the number of baths you give Fido. Washing your pup too much will remove essential oils from their skin, increasing their chances of developing dry flakey skin. Whenever you to bathe them, it should be absolutely necessary and try to use moisturizing products that your vet recommends. What you should do more of though is brush your furry friend. Brushing them will not only remove dead hair, but it also stimulates blood circulation, improving the overall condition of their skin.
Always remember, if it’s too cold for you it’s probably going to be too cold for your pup. Don’t leave your dog outside for long periods of time during low temperatures like this. Being prepared and cautious during the winter months is the best way to keep your furry friend happy and healthy all season long.