The Secret to Soft and Healthy Paws this Winter

Did you know that your dogs paws can crack and splinter just like our hands do during the winter? Damage to the paw pads of their feet caused by low humidity, ice, and salt can get so bad that the pads bleed. If left uncared for, these cracks and sores can potentially lead to infection. Fortunately, there are plenty of products available to help keep the pads of your furry companions protected and healthy this winter.

To protect humans and vehicles from slipping and sliding on the ice, salt is most commonly used. Salt dries the pads of your pups paws causing cracks. You can avoid this on your own property by using a salt alternative, such as Safe Paw or Walk Safe. Both Safe Paw and Walk Safe are environmentally safe and nontoxic ice melters that will not cause any damage to the pads of their paws, as a side benefit they are less caustic and damaging to pavement and walkways.

Unfortunately, not everywhere you walk your dog will use this safe alternative. This means you will need to find a different way to protect their paws when out on adventures. One of the options is to use booties. Not only are booties adorable, but they also keep your dogs paws safe and many boot options exist for varied terrain situations. This means some boots are used year round.

However, not all dogs adapt well to booties. If this is your dog, there is also a product called Musher’s Secret. This is a protective wax that forms a breathable bond with your dog's paws. It was developed in Canada for use with sledding dogs and is made from 100% natural waxes.

All of these options and more can be found at Cherrybrook! Stop into any one of our retail locations today with your pooch to get more information on how to better protect your dogs paws this winter season.