What is the best way to take care of your dog’s paws while on or off the trail? There are so many hazards for dogs when it comes to getting around. The insane heat in some places could melt the pads causing severe burns. It the winter if the feet and nails get too cold, the nails can become brittle. You can end up with lacerations from sharp rocks when forging rivers or bouldering. In the winter, people like to salt their sidewalks and roads. Here are 9 tips to protect those precious footsies!
- WATCH WHERE YOU WALK
- CONSTANT PAW EVALUATIONS
- BUILDING UP STAMINA AND PAW DURABILITY
- MUSHERS SECRET
- DOG BOOTS
- BOOT LINERS
- KEEPING NAILS TRIMMED
- CAREFUL ON THE ICE
- EARLY PAW MASSAGES
WATCH WHERE YOU WALK
The last thing you want to do is drag your dog through broken bottles, sharp rocks, or metal shards. These days, it’s all too common for people not to clean up after themselves. Be alert to the terrain you are walking.
CONSTANT PAW EVALUATION
Do checks every so often. Check to see if your dog has cuts or scrapes. Check small pebbles lodged in between to digits. If your dog begins to limp or starts to lick the paws excessively, this is your cue to check the pupper pads.
BUILDING PAW STAMINA
Try walking on the pavement at a normal pace for 5 mins, and then try running. While you probably won’t cut your feet, it is likely that your feet will be sore unless you run barefoot on pavement often. Just like you must build up a tolerance, so does your dog. Help them with that by taking them on long walks and slowly increasing the mileage.
PHOTO- MUSHERS SECRET
MUSHERS SECRET
This natural paw wax is on point. It helps in the summer and winter equally. It stops snow from balling up on the fur and pads, making a brisk walk more enjoyable. This helps soothe the pads after a long day too. Sometimes I’ll put this on Liberty when we are at base camp and rest for the remainder of the day. I will sometimes apply this to her paws before putting on boots.
DOG BOOTS
These fly kicks will have your dog in a wobble frenzy when you first start to use them. Make sure you practice and build up a tolerance before using them for big miles. These shoes will help in the summer protecting the pads from the heat and in the winter, giving added traction on the snow. Be careful though, boots on ice is a slippery slope!
Remember when ordering your boots; most reputable sellers only sell the shoes in pairs of two. This is due to the fact your dog’s paws may be different sizes in the front and rear. Make sure you measure all four paws to ensure proper fit.
PHOTO: RUFFWEAR LINER
BOOT LINERS
Some dogs have a knack for wiggling out of their boots. That’s where liners come into play. Just a little extra material is all you’ll need to keep them attached to your dog.
PHOTO- PORTABLE DREMEL
DOG NAIL UPKEEP
It doesn’t matter if you use boots, wax, or check the pads every 10 seconds. Good paw health starts with trimmed nails. If you can hear your dog’s nails clicking on the pavement, they’re too long. If you put boots on, long nails could cause damage to the shoe, or the shoe could damage the long nails. Also, long nails prevent your dog from standing properly; it messes with their puppy posture. That could lead to leg injuries, ACL tears, or even hip and joint complications. Some use clippers but I use a portable Dremel.
CAREFUL ON THE ICE
Ice is slippery, and even a dog with four paw drive is susceptible to slippage. Also, as ice forms and expands, it can cause sharp edges to develop. These can easily slice your dog’s pads right open, ending adventures early.
EARLY PAW MASSAGES
If you are fortunate enough to get your dog as a wee-little pup pup, then you should make sure you do paw desensitization. This will help when you go to the vet or need to pull a splinter from your pupper’s pad. It will make home nail trimming so much easier.
TRAIL TAILS
A few things to take away from this before you head out for the next adventure. Don’t use human hand lotions or moisturizers on your dog pads. This can cause them to soften and inevitably makes them more prone to injury. Just like salt can irritate the pupper pads in the winter, so can your household detergent residue left over from your last floor cleaning session. Make sure you are cleansing the deck of detergent residue.
If this article was helpful, please feel free to share it. Social media is a powerful thing; Liberty and I would love your help in making our adventure pupper resource grow. If I missed something, please leave a comment or let me know so I can update this article for our community.
