How can I protect my dog's paws?

The surfaces your dog walks on can seriously impact the health of their paw pads. You must be wary of hot pavements in the summer and of floors recently cleaned with potentially harmful chemicals; these can be highly damaging to your dog’s paws, sometimes even causing blistering. Moisturising is a great way to prevent dry and cracked paws, however you must never use human moisturiser, as this can soften the pads too much and cause injury. Instead, ask your vet to recommend a specialised balm for dog paws. This will help to smooth the surface and reduce dryness. Rubbing the balm into your dog’s paws is also a good opportunity to give a paw massage. When caring for your dog’s paws, remember to also check between the pads, as debris commonly becomes lodged in these places. You should also check the length of fur growing between dog’s paw pads. Although not all, some dogs have significant amounts of hair growing on their feet. Clipping your dog’s nails is also a vital part of caring for them and their paws. A dog’s claws provide protection for their paw pads and so maintaining them is important for the health of the entire foot.

Use a paw balm which is safe to help keep their pads soft and protected from the elements. Use dog boots for extra protection. Not only do dog boots protect paws from the salt and ice, but they also keep them warm and prevent slips on icy surfaces. Look for boots that are waterproof, have non-slip soles, and fit securely. Consider paw protection pads. These adhesive pads are applied directly to the paw pads and can help shield them from the cold, chemicals, and rough terrain. They’re a great alternative for dogs who won’t tolerate boots or for owners who need a quick fix. Keep paw hair trimmed. If your dog has long fur around their paws, keep the hair trimmed to prevent snow, ice, and debris from getting trapped. Rinse and dry their paws after walks. After every walk, especially if you’ve been out in the snow, ice, or rain, rinse your dog’s paws with lukewarm water. This helps to remove any salt, dirt, or chemicals that might be harmful to their skin.

If the asphalt is too hot for us to walk on without shoes, it’s too hot for our pups. During the summer, opt for morning or evening strolls, so you are outside when temperatures are cooler. Your pup may benefit from booties or a paw balm to help keep their paws protected. There are several styles of dog boots on the market for both hot and cool surfaces that can be used to lower the risk of injury to a dog’s paw pads. When considering summer shoes for dogs, choose ones made with breathable fabric, since dogs sweat through their paws. Other features to look for in dog boots include lightweight, easy to get on and off, adjustable and come in a wide variety of sizes to ensure a snug, comfortable fit, made from durable, waterproof, breathable materials, easy to clean, and nonslip. Alternatively, you can exercise your pup through indoor play and skip long walks altogether. Closely examine your dog’s paw pads after long walks or in hot weather, and look for small red swollen spots, darker coloration than usual, or even missing pieces of the pad itself. Rinse your dog’s paws after every walk to remove pollen from the skin potentially causing an allergic response.

When your dog comes in from a walk, you can rinse their paws in warm (not hot) water and blot them dry with a towel. You might like to apply a little paw butter or paw balm afterwards, to moisturise them and prevent cracking. It can help to stop snow from collecting and balling up between your dog’s toes if you trim away the fur from between your dog’s toes so the snow has less to adhere to, and some paw butter between your dog’s toes might also help to prevent snow from sticking. You could always consider getting your dog a set of boots to wear during icy and snowy weather. Be sure that they fit correctly and dry them out properly between each use.