Winter Paw Care for Dogs

As your dog continues to ‘go for walkies’ and answer the call of nature, and even endure dry furnace heating throughout the winter months, her paws can take a beating. They need a little extra help during the extremes of heat and cold and wet weather conditions.

Here are seven tips for winter paw care:

  1. Trim Nails: Keep your dog’s nails trimmed. Long nails require her to spread her toes farther apart. You want to keep them compact for warmth. 
  1. Trim Furry Feet: If your dog has long fur between the toes, it’s better to have the fur on the foot pads trimmed so they don’t become soaked in rainy or snowy conditions. If you try it at home, only use an electric beard trimmer with the smallest head, for the best precision. Don’t try this with scissors.
  1. Waterproof Shoes: Get waterproof booties if you live anywhere that has slush, to protect against chapped paw pads and frostbite.
  1. Paw Balm: Check your pet’s feet daily for cuts or scrapes that could fester. Use paw balm or Vaseline generously. Rub it into your pet’s paws, including between the toes to add a moisture-protective coating against wet conditions and chapping. There are several balms made just for dogs that smell wonderful, as well as DIY recipes online. Musher’s Secret is a dog-safe wax-based balm developed in Canada for sled dogs that seems to be the maximum in dog foot care.
  1. Shorten Walks: Walk with your dog so you can judge how cold and wet the weather might be, keeping the walks shortened, and getting her back into the house before she gets too cold or wet. On slippery surfaces, she will appreciate your steadying hand.
  2. Towel Dry: Have a towel waiting at the door to wipe down your dog’s feet immediately after going outside. If mud, salt, de-icers or antifreeze get onto your dog’s feet, wash them immediately with gently warmed water. Using water that’s too warm on cold feet can cause painful stinging. 
  1. Foot Massage: For your dog, and maybe for you, too. When she’s relaxing at the end of the day, having a good pet-down and a brush-out, massage her feet to maintain healthy circulation.

Although the south usually doesn’t get extreme winter weather, anything is possible these days. Spring, too, is often very wet and unpredictable. Simply be prepared to take special care of your dog during bad weather. You may find that this extra pampering for your furry friend builds a closer bond between you both, making the time spent indoors during bad weather even more cozy.