Winter walks when the snow is falling with your pet can be magical; however, you must prepare your pet for winter weather. Protecting your pet’s paws may include wearing socks or booties when walking outside and ensuring your pet’s feet are clean and free of debris between the pads. Speaking with a veterinarian about properly caring for your pet’s paws during the cold winter can help. Our veterinarians at Jane Animal Hospital in Toronto, ON, are here to help with your pet care needs, including advice for winter paw care and a routine pet exam.
How to Protect Your Pet’s Paws in the Winter
Several things can impact the condition of your pet’s paws, including the cold surface and the salt used to melt ice on sidewalks. Continue reading to learn more about how to protect your pet’s feet in the winter:
Routine Paw Care
Healthy feet may involve trimming the fur between their pads to reduce ice, salt crystals, and ice-melting chemicals from sticking to the fur and affecting the pads of their paws.
Take Your Dog on Short Walks
Avoid exposing your pet’s paws to frigid temperatures for too long, and take them for quick, short walks. It is possible frequent short walks throughout the day are better than one long walk.
Keep Your Pet’s Paws Moisturized
The air during the winter is dryer, which can cause your pet’s paws to dry and crack. Use a pet-approved paw balm or moisturizer and potentially a humidifier in your home to help keep your pet’s paws soft and prevent cracking.
Doggie Boots
Doggie boots can help protect your pet’s paws against the cold ground and from getting anything trapped between the pads. Additionally, the doggie boots can help prevent the paw pads from drying out and cracking from overexposure to cold weather.
Use a Towel
If your pet walks in snow or on salt, use a towel to wipe off his feet. This can help prevent salt crystals from staying on your pet’s paws and potentially harming them. Using a towel can also help your dog from tracking snow and other debris into the house.
See a Toronto Veterinarian at Our Animal Hospital for Guidance on Winter Paw Care
Winter is here, and it is time to see a Toronto, ON, veterinarian on our team learn more about winter paw care. Make an appointment with us at Jane Animal Hospital for a pet exam and learn more about caring for your pet’s paws during the winter months. Call us today to schedule a pet exam with one of our veterinarians. Call us at (416) 762-5558 for our animal hospital.
