Should I moisturize my dog's paw pads?
Khalid Welch
2025-07-31 21:14:28
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The cold weather presents a whole host of issues for dog owners when it comes to caring for your pet’s paws. The salt and de-icers used on roads and pavements can irritate your dog’s paws, so you should ensure you wash and moisturise their paws after they’ve been outside. If you notice the soles of your dog’s paws are cracked or dry, then massage Vaseline into them. Alternatively there are special pad moisturisers which you can buy from pet shops that are specifically designed for the job.
Reed Halvorson
2025-07-31 20:53:40
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You should moisturize your dog's paw pads if they are cracked, peeling or too dry. Avoid using human lotions or moisturizers and stick with products made specifically for canine paws. Be careful not to overdo it — if your dog already has soft paw pads, moisturizing them can make them more susceptible to tearing or ripping when they walk on rough surfaces. When paws are becoming dry if you moisturise them then you will prevent cracking, this can help prevent cuts forming which can mean your dog is more susceptible to infection. Moisturising the paws is not the only way you can help your dogs paws but it can be a useful product, as well as preventing cracking, if the paw is cracked they can help the paw heal. Both tough and soft paws can become dry and it's important to check paws regularly to know if they may need hydrating. Paw pads appear differently depending on your dog's activity. A dog that does more walking on different surfaces will have tough paws, a dog at home more may have slightly softer paws. The tough paws are not necessarily the ones that need moisturising, and neither are soft.