Cold Weather Paw Protection

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

30 Oct 2006 07:06 PM

As the weather turns colder, you may be thinking about protecting your pets' paws when they're out in the yard or on a walk. Snow and ice can be very painful to your pet's paws. Salt and other ice melters can cause serious damage to bare paws.

So what are your options for paw protection? You can buy boots for your pets to wear, try a cream or wax to protect paws, or just inspect and wash your pet's feet carefully after each outdoor excursion.

Perhaps the best-known cream is Musher's Secret. This is a wax-based cream that can be applied to the foot pads and between toes to protect against salt, chemicals, and ice. The cream can be applied weekly (or more often if needed) and will also protect against blisters, bruises, paw pad cracks, and abrasions. The organic wax bonds to the paws, yet still allows perspiration to escape.

You've got many boot options to choose from. Mutt-luks are a pretty well-known option, but there are plenty of other brands out there. There are some features you should look for in a paw protecting boot:

• Lightweight -- you don't want your pet to be hauling around heavy boots. That will only make it harder to walk, run, and play.
• Comfortable -- your pet won't wear the boots if they aren't comfortable. A padded footbed or adjustable cuff can help make your pet's boots more comfy.
• Traction -- make sure the boots you pick have non-skid soles.
• Appropriately sized -- learn more about fitting your pets for clothes and footwear here. Make sure to include the toenails in your foot measurement; hair can be compressed but nails can't.
• Waterproof -- it won't do much good to have your pet wear boots that let the elements in!
• Warm -- your pet can enjoy the outdoors longer if his paws aren't freezing!
• Safety features -- some boots come with reflective tape to help make your pet more visible at night.

Read more about cool pet gear at Families.com!

Learn more about Aimee Amodio

Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover...

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