Cold temperatures and winter storms can play havoc on a puppy’s paws.
Since puppies rely on their owners to watch over them and protect them, you need to be very vigilant in the winter months if you live where the weather is harsh.
The best thing to you can do for the puppy that lives in a climate where winter is cold and snow and ice are prevalent is to wash his or her feet immediately with warm soapy water upon returning indoors from a walk. It is important to do this even if you don’t see any signs of dirt or debris because many of the chemicals used to melt snow and ice are very toxic to puppies and adult dogs of all ages. If you don’t wash the puppy’s feet right away, he or she will waste no time licking them and you could have a very sick puppy on your hands.
When examining the puppy’s paw pads, be sure to spread the toes and look for clumps of ice or deicer that has accumulated. Wash the puppy’s paws again if necessary. Be certain that you have removed all chemicals.
Follow the washing by a thorough drying with a towel.
Once the paws are dried, take the time to inspect them for abrasions, cracks, cuts or redness. Treat red, sore areas with Vaseline, which can also be used as a protective layer prior to the walk outdoors. Use a good antibiotic ointment (your veterinarian can prescribe something or you can use an over-the-counter human product such as Neosporin) to treat cuts and cracks.
If your puppy has long hair on its paws, it is important to keep the hair groomed and cut short. Long foot hair is an open invitation for ice, snow and chemicals to latch on between the puppy’s pads.
Pay close attention to the length of your puppy’s nails at all times, but be extra cautious during the winter season. Long nails are easily torn on ice and winter debris. In addition, long nails spread the puppy’s paws apart and this provides a good environment for snow and ice buildup.
While you definitely want to continue exercising your puppy outdoors in those harsh, winter temperatures, keep in mind that it is best to take the puppy for shorter, but more frequent walks to avoid frostbite of the footpads. How long a puppy can last outdoors before developing hypothermia or frostbite depends on a number of factors, including breed, age, body weight and the coat type.
Hypothermia or frostbite is no joking matter when it comes to puppies. As is the case with humans, these ailments require immediate medical treatment.
Prevention is definitely worth a pound of cure when it comes to either of these conditions.
There are many manufacturers of dog booties, which are one of the best means of preventing winter injuries. Note that it is best to get the puppy used to boots as soon as possible so that he or she is comfortable wearing them. Trying to get an adult dog to wear boots for the first time can be a frustrating experience for both you and the dog.
There are a few products on the market that can help keep your puppy’s feet healthy during winter extremes. Musher’s Secret is a popular paw wax that can be applied to a puppy’s feet before walking. It works well as a protective covering, but it is still important to cleanse the puppy’s feet as soon as you come indoors.
In addition, there are pet-friendly deicing products that can be purchased at pet stores. However, just because you use it doesn’t mean your neighbors will. It is still crucial that you cleanse and examine a puppy’s paws when he or she comes in from the outdoors.
Related posts:
- How To Clean Your Puppys Paw Pads
- Dog Paws Do Double Duty
- Puppies Have Sweat Glands in Their Paws
- What to Do About a Puppys Bites Or Rashes
- Why Does my Dog Chew It’s Paws?
