A vet friend of mine in the Northeast came down for a little fun in the sun this past week. He had to come over and see me because I am his favorite elixir for snow and cold. Mommy was showing him my nose that is crusty. He told Mommy to watch for my paws. He said the cold will dry them out and they will crack and bleed.
After that little what to watch for he showed Mom some pictures of dogs that have salt damage in their paws. He said that we forget as humans because we always wear shoes in the snow or ice that the salt is a real issue. He said imagine having an open wound and going in the salt water, it burns right? Then it soothes. Well in this case the salt becomes small shards of glass like particles and wedges into our pads and will make them bleed and cause pain.
We joke about the shoes, but even if you live in Florida where the snow never lays and the idea of salt on the road is when you empty out a cooler from the beach, start early with shoes. Especially if you want to keep those pads clean and safe.
To do it again with a puppy I would do all the crazy things My MeMe would have laughed at. Shoes, toddler bed no crate, rocking to sleep, you know...
Please keep those feet protected...
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