Ice, Ice, Safety?

As we are approaching the winter season, dreading the cold is not the only thing we have to keep in mind. Pennsylvania is known for getting a decent amount of snow, most winters, and with that follows shoveling and de-icing, pathways, sidewalks, and roads.

This weather wreaks havoc on our dogs paws during the winter, but there are some precautions you can take to keep your dog safe. You want to be sure you are purchasing a de icer that is pet friendly to ensure your pet’s safety. Some de icers are not pet friendly and very toxic to pets. A second issue occurs if you have to walk your dog on a road or sidewalk during bad weather. The roads are salted in an attempt to keep drivers safe, but the chemicals can cause harm to your dogs paws. If you have no choice and have to walk your dog on these surfaces, dog boots are a safety feature you may want to invest in. The boots similar to the shoes that protect our feet will do the same for your dog. Amazon and Chewy are sites that have a wide variety of options to choose from, and you may also want to purchase socks to go along with the boots, to cut down on rubs. You always want to make sure that you have to correct fit, so be sure to measure your dogs feet more than once, and if in between sizes go up in size. In the event you would like to avoid using boots, there is a product called, “mushers secret” this is a wax based balm that helps protect paws in all elements, snow, ice, and sand. Made of all natural beeswax with added Vitamin E this product not only creates a barrier between paws and surfaces, but soothes and heals any cracks in the paws and pads.

These are just a few options you can implement to protect your dog’s paws during the upcoming winter months.