Winter protection and care for paws keeps dogs happy
We're in the thick of harsh winter weather here in Michigan. Despite the season's challenging nature, it's still pretty easy to get out with your dogs to enjoy what the season has to offer — providing you've taken care to provide protection to one very sensitive part of your dogs' body: their paws.
On a walk with a client the other day, a passerby motioned downward and made a snide comment. "Oh, you make her wear those?" he asked as we walked past each other, with me bundled up in layers, a hat and gloves and my charge in her winter fleece coat — and more importantly for her, paw booties.
Silly looking or not, I'm a big believer in using dog booties, as they protect against the elements as well as chemicals. Another plus: protection from sharp ice shards, rocks and the like that occur randomly on walking surfaces. Most dogs are a little leery about wearing booties, at least a first, but after a couple of times, they don't seem to mind — especially if they don't have to sit after a walk and have their paws wiped clean!
flickr photo courtesy of spaceamoeba
Click here for other types and brands of booties.
Older dogs who have mobility problems, and those with diseases like Degenerative Myleopathy benefit as well, because of the additional grip that booties offer, at all times of year. Slip a pair on the rear paws, and they have added confidence, especially on tile or wood floors. Most dogs with Degenerative Myleopathy (commonly seen in German Shepherd dogs) have a tendency to drag their rear paw a bit, or "knuckle over" — which results in painful tissue wounds. Booties can protect those sensitive areas and aid in reduced clumsiness when turning corners, which is a challenge in dogs with DM.
All city and neighborhood sidewalks vary with regard to the way that they are kept in snowy and icy weather and the type of treatments that are used to keep walking surfaces walkable. Calcium chloride and rock salt are commonly used, and they can be irritating to a dog's bare paws.
Ice balls are a common problem, too and they can be painful. Ice balls form in between pads of paws that have wispy hair. Trimming fur between the toes can be helpful against ice balls forming, as can massaging petroleum jelly or Musher's Secret Wax into paw pads before going outside. This also helps to protect from salt and chemical agents, especially if yours is the kind of pooch who will not tolerate wearing booties.
Wiping paws clean after walks is important to remove any ice melter or salt residue so that it's not ingested, as dogs are notorious for licking paws. Be sure to examine paws while you're wiping, looking for abrasions, cuts or embedded pebbles and the like.
Lorrie Shaw is regular contributor on AnnArbor.com's pet section and has featured the topic of animal rehabilitation in companion animals. She welcomes your contact via e-mail, and you can follow her daily pet adventures as owner of Professional Pet Sitting on Twitter.
Comments
Lorrie Shaw
Mon, Jan 10, 2011 : 5:34 p.m.
Lisa, It sounds like you're doing a great job with Chico! He sounds delightful and wow... what a spirit! I'm so glad that you shared his story. It made my day, seriously! Enjoy your life with him. I'd be interested to hear about how his adventures while using booties go! :)
lisasimpson
Sun, Jan 9, 2011 : 2:18 a.m.
Lorrie, Thanks for the love for my Chico! He's actually the most amazing dog, he is fearless and lives his life like he's any other dog. I adopted him at 9 months of age and his condition was full-blown; his muscles simply weren't enough to support his growing body. His endurance was little to none, but he was still a labrador puppy that needed his exercise! We started training on the treadmill mainly out of convenience - I needed to walk him several times a day and I never knew when his muscles would quit. He has since built up what muscle he does have and is quite strong! He is much more stable on his feet now and his gait is strong and confident. He is still very much disabled; he needs help getting in the car and he cannot do stairs, period, but otherwise he's (almost) normal. He no longer walks on his back legs like a bunny, although he still runs like a bunny!! But he still drags those toes when he walks. I saw they have the Pawz at Pet Supplies Plus so the next time Chico and I pop in we will grab a package. Can't hurt to try, keeping the snow from packing between their toes is worth them looking ultra-silly. :)
Lorrie Shaw
Sat, Jan 8, 2011 : 10:43 p.m.
Zip - Yes, I have and honestly, some dogs will not cooperate where booties are concerned. Mine won't! I can imagine that it really diminishes their tactile function and overall are bothersome to wear for them. Kudos to you for getting your pooch out regularly beyond "more than four walls"!
zip the cat
Sat, Jan 8, 2011 : 8:32 p.m.
Ever tried getting a 75 lb female lab to wear booties that does not want to wear them. I have one and we walk at hudson mills park every day,all types of weather. She wears a coat and hat but when I come out with the booties,wow what a dirty look I get.
Lorrie Shaw
Sat, Jan 8, 2011 : 1:41 p.m.
Lisa, First let me start by saying that I'm sorry. I know that CNM is needless to say, a heartbreaking disease and poses an abundance of challenges in the mobility and function in Labradors, and I know that there's no cure. And sadly, the onset of CNM can be evident quite early in life - a bigger challenge - while DM is seen in adult/senior dogs typically. Knuckling over and it's subsequent effects obviously can exacerbate CNM, as you're aware. It's so hard to know what will help, because most professionals have so little experience with the disease, I'm guessing, since it's centralized to Labs. A client used velcro neoprene booties for their late dog to address the dragging motion, however her gait was such that it wasn't too pronounced at that time. They stayed on well, but I find that Pawz work well. Shaped like a balloon, Pawz are loose at the bottom, where the paw is inserted, and quite snug at the top, around the ankle. Sized properly, they don't cut off circulation. You have to kind of open up the opening with your fingers, hold the bootie open and slip it over the paw quickly and adjust the top. A little tricky at first, but with some practice, fast work. Plus, because they are rubber, they're nice and grippy. Another reason that I like them -- very secure -- no ties, velcro, etc. As with any booties, though, long-term wear is discouraged as pups perspire through their paws and condensation (if you will) will accumulate. I hope that my experience with them helps a little bit. A animal rehab specialist might have more ideas for better mobility aids and tricks, too. They're true experts in that area.
lisasimpson
Sat, Jan 8, 2011 : 12:57 p.m.
My labrador has CNM (centronuclear myopathy) and he also "knuckles over" with his back legs. I always thought the dragging motion would work off anything I were to put on his back paws.