Paw Care
As a follow up to my previous post…..Winterize Your Pet….I thought I would talk specifically about our furry friend’s feet. Winter can be brutal on those little tootsies especially if you live in an area that uses salt and sand to get rid of ice. After each walk with your dog you should immediately remove any snow and salt. Flushing with a lot of warm water and then blow drying the hair on a low heat will help to prevent skin irritation from the salt or other chemicals. If you have a long haired dog another thing you may want to do is trim the hair around the toes and pads. Snow will tend to ball up the hair and can be irritating or will keep the feet moist for a long time. Moisture and dark areas can set up for some nasty skin infections. 
Another thing to watch out for is frostbite. Frostbitten skin is a red or gray color and the skin could actually slough off. Apply moist, warm towels to the paws to thaw out the skin slowly until the skin appears flush. Contact your veterinarian as soon as possible for any further care.
Powered by Qumana
