PROTECT DEM PAWS

After bringing my own dogs back home from a walk the other day, I was cleaning off their paws when I looked down and noticed the white stains on my boots - remnants of salt and ice melt.  I immediately thought that now, wintertime,  might be a good time to remind  everyone to clean (wash & dry) your dog’s paws after taking them for a walk outside on the street. [FYI - I use just a wet towel and plain water. People ask if they can use Baby Wipes – DON’T – the PH of Baby Wipes is different than a dog’s skin PH and may cause more irritation and dryness than you are trying to avoid.]

Its wintertime.  Snow, sleet, and icy rain is going to make people spread salt & ice melt on the sidewalks and streets.  We, us people, are lucky.  We wear shoes and boots to protect our feet from the sodium chloride, potassium chloride, magnesium chloride, calcium magnesium acetate, potassium acetate, sand, and whatever other periodic table of elements that companies have put in their ice melt products.  And I’m including the salt, sand, and slurry brine that snowplow hoppers spread to deice the roadways.  And most people don’t put doggy booties on their dogs, so the majority of dogs have their naked paws exposed to the elements - everything that Mother Nature and the chemical companies can throw at ‘em.  Those poor little doggy paws.

Not only can these ice melt products dry and irritate a dog’s paws, but if these chemicals are ingested, say by a dog licking its paws, ( I know a few dogs who could make paw licking a national sport ), could cause a dog to get sick.  Typically, dogs just get thirsty from the salt and drink away any minor thirst issues ingestion might cause, but over time and increased exposure, for whatever reason, to these ice melt elements, might cause salt toxicity.  A condition that needs medical attention. A condition simple to avoid by cleaning your dog’s paws.

So, let’s keep fido’s paws lickably clean after a walk outside when you expect roads & sidewalks have been treated with ice melt. And speaking of “ice” make sure there are no icy snowballs, OR pieces of rock salt, stuck in-between their toes – that could be painful.

In fact, it is great idea to ALWAYS clean your dog’s paws after a walk.  A good practice to keep your dogs paws healthy and an opportunity for you to check out those tootsies, and in-between those toes, and make sure they are healthy, free from cuts, debris, & irritation and are good to “GO”!

INPAWTENT INPAWMATION

As I’m writing in this Newsletter about protecting your dog’s paws against ice melt chemicals – I’m thinking once again – about what do most dog owners really know about their dog’s paws.  Sure, many of you are very savvy dog owners and are already very well aware of all your dog’s parts and purposes.  However, maybe some dog owners out there, who are reading this Newsletter, may learn a little something they may not have been completely aware of before.  They say, “knowledge is power”, and boy have I found that to be true.

So, a brief six point rundown on a dog’s paws working parts and functionality.  (1) A dog’s paws serve more of a purpose than just to stand, walk & run on.  (2) Dog paws are the only place on a dog that sweats. The sweat gland are in-between the toes, (which is why I say, keep in-between a dog’s toes clean and free from foreign objects ie: ice, salt, small stones)  (3) There are a couple of different classical physical differences between dog paws by breed, like webbed toes, but all dogs rely on the fat pads and thick callouses on their paws for protecting/cushioning their paw bones & joints from the pressures/shock from walking, running and jumping. (4) a dog’s paws have a special circulatory system that keeps paws extra warm inhibiting them from freezing, allowing them to walk, play and run in the cold & snow comfortably – where our people feet would be frozen.  (5) the same circulatory system helps keep paws cool on those hot summer days, but always keep in mind – hot sidewalks can reach extremely unnaturally hot temperatures that can burn and be uncomfortable and injure a dog’s paws – be aware – keep those paws wet & cool.  (6) a dog who rarely leaves the house and enjoys a soft grassy lawn has softer and more delicate paws than a city dog who walks on concrete streets and sidewalk surfaces who have much thicker and tougher callused paws. And dogs who romp through the woods have paws that are adapted to that terrain.  My point is always keep the conditioning of your dog’s paws in mind – especially if one day you decide to go on a long walk or a hike through the woods.  Always take the time to condition you dog’s paws to ease them into new activities.  Dogs will love the new experiences and activities, but like you they won’t enjoy their aching feet/paws afterwards.

Okay, six points that you all probably already knew….but points that are always worth telling and sharing.  Dogs are my life.  I love them.  So, letting everybody know even the smallest of things is important to me.

Keep on truckin’.

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