Mary Allen
Many dogs love to romp around in this “winter wonderland” after it has just snowed. However, snow between the paws that stumbles, i.e. turns into painful lumps of ice, can bring the fun to an abrupt end.
Walking in winter can quickly lead to lameness. The reason for this is often snow between the paws, which forms small lumps of ice and lodges between the toes and pads of the dog. As unpleasant or even painful as they may be for furry friends, they can be easily removed by gently rubbing them with your fingertips. However, the phenomenon can also be prevented.
Cut Hair, Groom Paws
The most important rule of thumb is as simple as it is effective and is: The shorter the hair or less (shaggy) the fur between the pads, the fewer clumps of ice will get caught in them! The hair between the toes is usually easy to trim. It is best to use a hair trimmer and not scissors to keep the risk of injury as low as possible.
It is also helpful to rub the skin between the bales with milking fat or Vaseline. This means that lumps of ice, road salt, and mud do not stick to the dog’s feet as easily and can do less damage than without appropriate care. In addition, the skin in these areas remains much more supple – painful cracks or other injuries are thus prevented.