While some aspects of winter – like playing in snow – can be fun, salt on Boston roads and sidewalks can be bad news for city dogs. It can lead to sore paws and more.
Poppy has been getting a lot of attention in her little red boots. (Or, "Ruby Slippers" as one woman on Newbury Street called them. We like that term and have adopted it.)
During the past couple of weeks, we've noticed a lot of readers finding a past post on dealing with salt on dog paws, so we're rerunning the information.
Here are 7 tips for dealing with winter when you have a dog!
Tip 1: Dog Boots
You're seeing photos from our little Poppy's first day wearing Pawz Water-Proof Dog Boots
Tip 2: Snow Rinse
So far, Poppy is not showing any of the tenderfoot problems that bedeviled our Maggie Mae. But, we're not taking any chances. If you've ever had salt in a cut, you know how that stings. Now imagine walking on salt with paws that are raw and irritated.
If you are out on a walk and your dog starts favoring a paw, try to find some clean snow and use that to rinse the salt from the paws.
Tip 3: Be Alert for Infections and GI Upsets
Salt and other melting chemicals can cause paws to become raw and irritated. If you see your dog licking his paws after a walk, that's a warning sign. Not only can the paw become infected, but dogs, especially small dogs, also can develop an upset GI system from ingesting these chemicals.
Tip 4: Wash Those Paws!
When you return from a salty walk, you should wash and dry your dog's paws. We do it even with the boots because sometimes a dip in a deep puddle or romp in the snow will leave some salt residue. We give Poppy a dip in the sink. For bigger dogs, there are a variety of paw washers
Tip 5: Off to the Vet, if …
There are signs when you should check in with your vet. This would be if a paw is bleeding, cracked, or ulcerated, and in the case of vomiting or diarrhea since these symptoms may not be related to the salt.
Tip 6: Avoid Metal on Sidewalks
Salt is also one of the culprits in the stray, electrical current that has killed at least four Boston dogs in past winters. Electrical problems can occur when salt applied to roads and sidewalks corrodes electrical equipment. Salty water can serve as a conductor allowing stray current to spread to metal grates, utility covers, and even to paving material and bare ground.
Tip 7: Use Salt Alternatives
For those concerned with the problems caused by salt, there are paw safe ice melt
Boot scrapers
Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.
Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon
Details:
Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2012 Penny Cherubino
like the one shown in the photos here. I find this type of stick very useful. It can be opened to a full five feet, if that is what you need, and then telescoped down to 27.5 inches. That's small enough to stow in a suitcase, backpack, or shopping bag.
since it would always have a rest for my camera open and ready to use.