Winter has
arrived along with snow and ice. Big Paws Inc. has preventative measures to
insure you and your dog get through winter without complications.
ROAD SALT vs. SAND
Have you noticed
when you take your dog for a walk in winter, after a certain period of time,
your dog starts picking up its feet, or holding its feet up when not in movement?
This is due to your dog’s paws being exposed to snow, ice and road salts. Your
dog picking up its feet is an indicator that its paws are sore and/or cold.
Now, what is it about road salt that's making your dogs paws uncomfortable and sore?
Here's a break down of what road salts are made of. Road salts are
composed of: chloride combined with
sodium, calcium, magnesium or potassium. Unlike the salt we consume, they may
contain heavy metals depending on the manufacturer. Road salts are toxic to dogs;
they’re considered an irritant and are increasingly recognized as an
environmental toxin. In August 2000 Environment Canada completed a five-year
study of the effects of road salts concluding that they are toxic to the
environment. Dogs suffer from painful burning and cracked-dried out pads. When
they lick their feet, they ingest the salt, which could lead to further
internal irritation in the mouth and digestive track. Veterinarians routinely
treat cases of poisoning and painful skin and jaw lesions that are caused by
salts. Here at Big-Paws we care about the wellbeing of your dog and that is why
we ONLY use sand. Sand is a great
alternative to road salts, its safe for your dog and it is environmentally friendly.
We suggest you encourage the people in your neighborhood to use sand as well,
so that your neighborhood is a “paw-friendly” area to walk your dog.
PROTECTING YOUR PET FROM THE COLD
Just like us,
dogs are more susceptible to illness during the winter, especially for dogs
with no undercoat, that have thin or no hair (Great Danes, Greyhounds, American Bulldogs). Protecting your dog from the cold is especially important in older
dogs, struggling with arthritis, and dogs with minimal body fat that does not
suffice as insulation. Putting a coat on your dog will keep it warm protects
its internal organs from the cold, and blocks out the rain, snow and gusty winds.
Take into consideration, that if it is too cold, take your dog out only for
bathroom breaks, also be aware of its ears, to avoid frostbite. A good indicator
that your dog is cold, is if the poor thing is constantly shivering. This means you will have to take
measure to keep your dog warm. Always be aware of the breed of dog you have and
its tolerance of extreme weathers. Breeds that are well adapted to cold
climates are Alaskan malamutes, Saint Bernards, Siberian huskies and Chow chows for example.
Also take into consideration, that if you have a dog with a long coat and you
cut it shorter than its natural length, your dog will need some sort of
protection against the cold since you've removed it.
PROTECTING YOUR DOGS PAWS
To protect your dog’s
paws from the snow and road salts, we recommend that you maintain their nails
short, it will provide better traction for them on ice, if your dog has long
nails it will make your dog’s toes splay out (spread) allowing more snow, ice and
salt to get stuck between your dog’s toes. And if your dog has a long coat,
keep the hairs short at the bottom of their paws to prevent buildup of ice
balls in and around its pads. A couple of things that we recommend to protect
your pet’s paws are dog boots or Vaseline.
Dog boots is a good way to protect
your dog’s paws from the winter elements, but you might encounter difficulties
with your dog wanting to use boots, as it can be an awkward experience for
them, after some time though your dog can get accustomed to them. For others a
great option if you do not want to put boots on your dog is Vaseline. Before
you head out for your walk, apply Vaseline all over your dog’s paws and in
between its toes, it’s a great salt barrier to avoid any burns or
lacerations. Also when you return home
from your walk, have a towel ready to wipe your dog’s paws with warm water, to
get any leftover Vaseline out and any salt or debris that could be stuck on
your dog’s paws. Dogs lick their paws to clean them; cleaning them will prevent
ingestion of the road salts which are toxic to them.
Big Paws Inc. wishes you a safe and enjoyable winter with your canine companion!
Thank you for reading,
Margarita & Patrona
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