Brrrr, the winter period is around the corner! Snuggling up in the couch with a hot cup of chocolate 🍫 while watching Netflix in your pj's, love it. But of course snow is part of this cozy season. For the dog owners it's often a challenge to walk your dog out during this cold period. Extreme cold, snow or thaw; we have to be careful when we go walking with our four-legged friend.
In order to guarantee the safety of the traffic, salt is often sprinkled on the streets to prevent slipperiness and sleet, but is this all healthy for your dog? The salt that's scattered on the roads is not only extremely hard to walk on for your dog but can also be very toxic. Dogs often lick their paws after walking, which causes them to swallow different toxic chemicals. In this blogpost we give 3 tips to protect the paws of your dog during wintertime ❄️
Preventive protection
You can train your dog from the start to wear special dog winter shoes. This may look crazy, but it does ensure that the paws are protected against various dangers such as ice, salt and sharp stones. The cushions on your dog's paws are very sensitive. If your dog does not tolerate shoes, choose a balm to better protect the paws. Lubricate them well before you walk and avoid ice- and salt injuries. Surprise Your Pet has a "soft paws balm" in their range for our Belgian and Dutch readers if you're interested.
Wipe paws after walking
It is very important to clean your dog's paws after walking, to prevent your dog from licking his / her paws afterwards and ingesting innumerable chemicals. Use a warm wet towel to remove salt residues, antifreeze and ice formation.
Take care of painful paws
As mentioned earlier, your dog's paws are very sensitive and can be injured quickly. When it's too late and your dog has already suffered, you can use a vaseline to ease the pain. When you notice open wounds, infections or ulcers, a visit to the vet is required!
Let's make this a magical winter! ⭐️
What are your plans the coming winter months? Let us know in the comments.
Waggings tails,
Dré'ke the Cavalier & team Drétastic
