WINTER AND YOUR DOG'S PAWS
Dogs are incredibly hardy creatures, but they're also not good communicators of pain at times, and therefore it is often easy to miss signs, until they are causing your dog discomfort. Winter can be a brutal time for your dog's paws. Not only can frost, ice and snow cause ice burns to the paw pads, but road salt can often be toxic to dogs and if left exposed can cause chemical burns. It is essential that during the winter you protect and hydrate your dog's paws, especially in urban areas. The presence of the cold weather and salt can dry your dog's paws, which ultimately lead to the paws becoming cracked and irritated.
To avoid unneccesary pain and discomfort for your dog there are a couple of tricks you can use! Keep reading for a pain free winter!
1. Use a paw balms, the easiest way to hydrate a dried and sore paw is to apply a to
pical balm. For example, our balms help to hydrate the paw pads, but also to create a protective layer against salt and grit, if applied before walks. We use an ingredient called hemp seed oil (cannabis sativa) which helps to reduce inflammation, and has brilliant natural healing properties. 2. Trim long hair surrounding paw pads! The longer the hair around your dog's paws, the more opportunity for ice and grit to become tangled or attached to the fur, which can not only become uncomfortable during walks, but also can cause burns to your dog.
3. Rinse paws off after walks. This allows you to remove any nasties trying to catch a ride of your dog's paws.
4.Humidity. Repeatedly coming out of the cold into the dry heat can cause itchy, irritated skin. Keep your home humidified and towel dry your dog as soon as he comes inside, paying special attention to their paws and in between the toes.