Wash off while walking, and again as soon you’re home
It’s a good idea to carry a towel along during winter walks so you can wipe snow, ice and salt off your dog’s paws and belly anytime it’s necessary.
If your dog comes home with salt stuck to his paws, he’ll be tempted to lick it off. This is a problem because most ice melters contain chemicals that can cause drooling, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Excessive intake can lead to liver damage, seizures, and even death.
Help your dog avoid serious stomach woes by washing his paws as soon as you return home. A small tub of warm water and a soft towel will get the job done, but there are also specialized canine footbaths available if you’re looking for something to help reduce spills and mess in your entranceway. Even if you can’t see any salt, it may still be there, so be sure to bathe his paws each time.
Just as you don’t want your dog ingesting salt by licking it off his paws, you also don’t want him eating it off the ground. Prevent him from drinking out of salty puddles and keep him away from any piles of salt you encounter while out for your daily walks.
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You can get him acclimated to wearing them by putting them on in the house and gradually increasing the length of time you leave them on as he gets used to them. You may want to try just putting them on the front paws for starters. Be sure to praise him and don’t laugh as he high steps getting used to them. Make sure the strap holding the boot on is not so tight that it constricts movement. However, they should be snug so the boots don’t slip off.
A: I love walking my dogs on a sunny day in winter when the temperature isn’t too cold and the wind isn’t blowing too hard, but with winter comes snow and icy conditions. Deicers are a necessary part of keeping walking and driving surfaces safe. Unfortunately, these products can be harmful to our canine friends as well.
To keep your dog from consuming ice melt products on your walks, try and discourage him from eating snow and drinking from puddles.
It is always a good idea to inspect your dog’s paws periodically to make sure they are in good shape.
Sally Salopek is the owner and operator of Attend-A-Pet pet sitting services in northern Door County. She has also worked professionally with animals in health care, pet grooming, training, wildlife rehab and rescue. Send your pet-related questions to her at [email protected].
Your dog might not cotton to the idea of wearing boots in the beginning, but they are excellent for keeping salts off your dog’s feet. Our dog boot of choice is the Muttluk boot, a brand that comes in a variety of sizes. If your dog is new to boots, give him or her an adjustment period inside your home before going outside in the snow.
All salts, if ingested in large enough quantities, are harmful to dogs, especially to dogs with kidney disease, in which case the result may be fatal. Never let your dog eat snow near-to-where sidewalk salt has been spread and never let him or her lick standing puddles on sidewalks or streets during winter where the salts can be dissolved in solution.
All sidewalk salts, with the exception of urea based de-icers, have a drying effect on animals’ paws. With repeated exposure to sidewalk salt, your dog’s paws will dry, itch and perhaps crack. Dogs that have cracked, dry paws, experience a burning sensation when they walk on sidewalk salts. Dogs that lick salt from their paws may experience stomach upset, vomiting and/or diarrhea.
Urea based de-icers or ones that contain magnesium chloride as the active ingredient are the safest for dog’s feet, but can be toxic if ingested by patients with kidney disease. Urea based de-icers (which ironically are not made of urine, but from natural gas) are safer for animal’s feet, but usually only work at temperatures no lower than 10 degrees. Urea also contains large amounts of nitrogen, a natural plant fertilizer, so be careful about spreading it around plants that are sensitive to too much of a good thing.
Toy breeds, shorthaired dogs and thinly built dogs like greyhounds appreciate the added warmth of a sweater. Some tighter fitting sweaters can actually have a calming effect on your dog. When selecting a sweater, steer clear of zippers, buttons, and appliques, all of which can be chewed and swallowed. Make sure that you can easily pass two fingers between the ‘armpit’ space and the neck of the sweater. If the sweater is a turtle neck, make sure that your dog’s collar is big enough to accommodate the additional width since the collar may have to be attached over the neck of the sweater. Use the link below to explore more on animal clothing in cold months.