Paw Care for Your Pet During the Winter Months
When it gets colder out, we humans put on boots, gloves, scarves, hats and heavier coats. Unfortunately, dogs don’t have the same choice to simply put on protective outerwear on their own—they rely on us, their owners, to help them out. Keeping your dog safe and warm during the winter calls for more than just a cute warm sweater, though—too often, dogs’ paws suffer due to chemicals on the sidewalk, cold, and more. Follow our tips to help keep your dog’s paws healthy all winter long. Keep Hair Trimmed If your dog has long hair, be sure to trim between his or her toes to ensure that the hair doesn’t soak up chemicals or snow when you take your dog for walks. This not only minimizes discomfort, but can protect your dog from getting these harsh chemicals stuck against their skin, which can result in painful chemical burns. Make Sure Paw Pads Are Moisturized One thing that can help safeguard against irritation is to make sure that your dog’s paw pads aren’t dried out or cracking when you take them outside. Using moisturizers or Vaseline on their paws can help protect the skin from harsh conditions outside. This can also soothe chapped paws. Clean Off Your Dog’s Paws Every time you come inside from a walk, use a warm, damp cloth to clean off your pet’s paws. This not only ensures that you are removing any chemicals or ice that have clung to your dog’s paws, but it also warms up their feet—what’s not to love about that after a cold walk outside? Consider Using Boots Of course, if your dog will put up with it, having them wear boots when they go outside will keep their paws most protected from the elements as well as from chemicals like ice melter crystals. Many dogs will want to kick boots off, but if you are persistent and put them on each time you go outside, most dogs get used to wearing them after a while. Keep Walks Short If the weather is very cold, and if your dog simply refuses to wear boots, you’ll want to keep their walks short so that they don’t get hurt. Try to keep dog walks under 20 minutes. This might mean more walks, but that’s okay—if you need help keeping your dog properly exercised during the day, you may want to consider hiring a dog walker to stop by a few times a week.
Winter Safety For Dogs
Source: raeganhuston.com As you now know just by taking a quick glance—or step—outside, winter is well underway in Chicago. While you’re trying to keep yourself warm as you face the elements, don’t forget about making sure your dog is just as protected, too. Here are some ways you can make sure your precious pooch stays as protected as possible during these frigid months: 1) Proper protection Just like we bundle up when heading outside, dogs need extra protection, too. If your dog has short hair, it may need an extra-thick sweater to keep it warm as you walk it through Chicago—long-haired dogs could also use similar protection, too. Don’t forget about other parts of your dog either. Dog shoes are cute, but they can also protect your dog from the dangerous elements, as well as from damaging salt that may be put down on slippery sidewalks. If you aren’t sure, a Chicago dog walking company can help you make sure your dog is protected on its stroll. 2) Staying as warm as possible Even though you’ll want to walk your dog as normal, in Chicago’s colder temperatures—and with its wind chill—you’ll want to make sure your dog can be indoors for as much as possible. Of course, your dog will still need to get adequate exercise, so you will have to take extra measures to ensure this happens. In addition to adding layers to your dog before going outside, make sure you don’t stay out too long either. The cold can affect your pet more than it may affect you, and especially in Chicago’s chilly temperatures, your pet may not be able to handle it and could get frostbite. Be attentive and alert if your dog starts to show signs of hypothermia or frostbite, and then go indoors immediately. Make sure your dog can stay warm indoors, too. If your home primarily has uncarpeted areas like tile, you can throw down extra blankets to make sure your dog is protected from these colder surfaces. If you’re at work all day and are worried your pooch may be getting too cold, some Chicago dog walking companies can check in on your pet throughout the day. 3) Clean up your pup Once your dog has come back in from a walk, make sure it is clean and dry. Blow dry or towel dry your dog to make sure it is as dry as possible and prevent it from getting too cold. If you’ve been walking in areas with rock salt, clean off your dog’s paws and apply a small amount of petroleum jelly to prevent them from cracking.