Paw care in winter: Protect your dog from road salt and cold with paw ointment, warm water and regular checks - for healthy paws!
Winter not only brings romantic snowy landscapes, but also challenges for dog owners. Straightand snow take a toll on our four-legged friends' sensitive paws.
You can find out here how you can protect your dog from painful tears, irritations and injuries.
Why road salt is so dangerous
Have you ever felt salt on a small wound? Dogs probably feel exactly this burning sensation when the road salt hits their unprotected, cracked paws. It attacks sensitive skin, causes cracks and can even cause inflammation.
Particularly tricky: When you lick your paws, the salt residue gets into your stomach, which can lead to vomiting or diarrhea. This is precisely why comprehensive protection and paw care is really important in winter.
Preparation is everything: protection before the walk
To ensure that your dog gets through the winter well, you should protect his paws before every walk. A special paw ointment acts as a protective layer that prevents salt and moisture from penetrating.
Ideally, you should choose products with natural ingredients such as beeswax or shea butter. If necessary, you can also try dog shoes - they can be a good choice, especially for sensitive dogs or for very long walks in the freezing cold. Please note, however, that your dog is probably less safe when walking because the shoes inhibit the paws' sense of touch.
After the walk is before the walk
As soon as you're back home, it's time to clean your paws! Wash your dog's paws with lukewarm water to remove salt, snow, and dirt. It is particularly important to clean the sensitive spaces thoroughly.
Don’t forget to dry off – moisture can quickly lead to inflammation. If you want to round off your care, apply a nourishing paw cream at the end.
Reading tips:
Care also needs to be practiced
As with pretty much everything, don't expect too much from your dog and stay patient. Many dogs don't like having their paws touched. Some are ticklish, others don't like it for other reasons.
Proceed carefully and patiently here. Maybe you can treat your dog with treats (like this one from Happy Dog at Fressnapf*) to persuade you to make paw care a nice ritual and yoursstrengthen.
Tipp:Claw trimming in particular is a nightmare for many dog-human couples. So that your dog doesn't associate cleaning and grooming with nail trimming, there should be a break in between.
At this point there is external content from Instagram that is recommended by our editorial team. It complements the article and can be displayed and hidden again with one click.
I agree to this external content being displayed to me. Personal data may be transmitted to the content provider and third-party services.
Prevention instead of cure: regular checks
Make sure to check your dog's paw pads regularly. Small cracks or discoloration may indicate irritation or injury. For deeper wounds, a special wound ointment from the pharmacy often helps. If the paw becomes inflamed or your dog is constantly limping, a visit to the vet is essential.
With our tips, your dog will stay fit and happy even in winter. Proper paw care only takes a few minutes, but saves your four-legged friend a lot of pain. Now it's your turn: look at your dog's paws right after your next walk - he'll thank you!
Important NOTE:This article is for informational purposes only. Before you bring a pet into your home, always consider the great responsibility that such a creature brings with it. If you already have a pet and have questions about health or behavior, please contact your veterinarian and, if necessary, an animal trainer.
