It's cold and slippery out there these days. And that means lots of road salt, which is not a good combination for delicate dog paws. The salt stings, and many dogs refuse to walk or suddenly limp when the salt hits their wooden paws.
And there is good reason to take extra care of the paws during the winter, because road salt draws fluid from tissue, and thus has a drying effect on the skin, and if the dog has small wounds or tears, or very little fur on the paws, it doesn't take much before contact with the road salt stings and hurts.
We have collected some good tips that you can use to help your dog get through the winter cold as best as possible.
Strengthen the skin
You can give your dog a supplement of good fish oil to strengthen his skin from the inside. Use one for dogs, with both omega 3, 6 and 9.
Paw wax applied before the walk will also form a protective film over the pads, just as some dogs benefit from "shoes" or small socks - depending on how much asphalt you walk on.
After tour
Please rinse the paws free of salt when you get home, that way you avoid the dog licking and being irritated. If the dog does not like water, baby wipes are also a nice and easy solution. Especially Kovaline wet wipes which contain a cleansing part that removes dirt and salt, but also a caring part that helps to strengthen irritated skin. It is an easy and very effective 2-in-1 solution that we are happy with at home.
Avoid washing with shampoo, but apply a nourishing cream afterwards to keep the wooden depots strong and flexible. There are many good options on the market, we have collected 5 suggestions for you here.
- Baby zinc ointment (Swan label)
- Kovaline ointment
- Helosan / nipple ointment
- Aloe Vera
- Paw care ointments
Remember that you should always go to your vet if your dog continues to have major discomfort and that you can also try to avoid very salty areas, for example by lifting the dog over roads or choosing alternative routes if possible.
Good winter
Take care of your winter paws
It's cold and slippery out there these days. And that means lots of road salt, which is not a good combination for delicate dog paws. The salt stings, and many dogs refuse to walk or suddenly limp when the salt hits their wooden paws.
And there is good reason to take extra care of the paws during the winter, because road salt draws fluid from tissue, and thus has a drying effect on the skin, and if the dog has small wounds or tears, or very little fur on the paws, it doesn't take much before contact with the road salt stings and hurts.
We have collected some good tips that you can use to help your dog get through the winter cold as best as possible.
Strengthen the skin
You can give your dog a supplement of good fish oil to strengthen his skin from the inside. Use one for dogs, with both omega 3, 6 and 9.
Paw wax applied before the walk will also form a protective film over the pads, just as some dogs benefit from "shoes" or small socks - depending on how much asphalt you walk on.
After tour
Please rinse the paws free of salt when you get home, that way you avoid the dog licking and being irritated. If the dog does not like water, baby wipes are also a nice and easy solution. Especially Kovaline wet wipes which contain a cleansing part that removes dirt and salt, but also a caring part that helps to strengthen irritated skin. It is an easy and very effective 2-in-1 solution that we are happy with at home.
Avoid washing with shampoo, but apply a nourishing cream afterwards to keep the wooden depots strong and flexible. There are many good options on the market, we have collected 5 suggestions for you here.
Remember that you should always go to your vet if your dog continues to have major discomfort and that you can also try to avoid very salty areas, for example by lifting the dog over roads or choosing alternative routes if possible.
Good winter