Salt & De-icer on the roads can cause havoc for your Pugs Paws and health
Most dogs are absolutely fine in cold conditions but the below is something you should be aware of especially if you see you dog licking their paws excessively after walking.
Winter can be harsh on our dog’s paw pads. Exposed to the elements and toxic chemicals, the paw pads are at risk for drying, cracking, trauma, frostbite and chemical burns. Luckily, there are some tips and products out there that can help keep your dog’s paws happy and healthy this winter.
De-icing products such as road salt and grit are the biggest potential danger to your dog’s paws. Not only do these products that are often spread along both roads and pavements, provide a hard, abrasive and gritty surface to help to prevent slips and falls, but they also contain a chemical de-icing product that can lead to chemical burns on the skin if exposed to prolonged contact.
Avoid walking your dog over gritted surfaces wherever possible, and if your dog has been into contact with gritted surfaces, wash and dry his paws off thoroughly after your walk.
Longer coated breeds - Ice balls forming between the pads and toes of the feet and clinging to the surrounding hair can also be very uncomfortable for your dog and potentially lead to ice burns. Also, the slush and ice on the roads and pavements may contain chemical de-icing products as mentioned above, so always check for ice balls and remove them, and check the paws over for ice balls while out walking if your dog suddenly seems uncomfortable or starts limping. Dogs that have very hairy feet are particularly susceptible to picking up lumps of ice- try to keep the hair around their paws trimmed down in the winter to help to minimise this.
Antifreeze and de-icer products used for cars can be another problem- these products are highly poisonous to dogs, and also have a sweet smell and taste that can encourage pets to ingest them. If your dog gets de-icer on his paws, he might lick this off, again another good reason to wash and dry your dog’s paws off once you get back from your walk.
De-icing products such as road salt and grit are the biggest potential danger to your dog’s paws. Not only do these products that are often spread along both roads and pavements, provide a hard, abrasive and gritty surface to help to prevent slips and falls, but they also contain a chemical de-icing product that can lead to chemical burns on the skin if exposed to prolonged contact.
Avoid walking your dog over gritted surfaces wherever possible, and if your dog has been into contact with gritted surfaces, wash and dry his paws off thoroughly after your walk.
Longer coated breeds - Ice balls forming between the pads and toes of the feet and clinging to the surrounding hair can also be very uncomfortable for your dog and potentially lead to ice burns. Also, the slush and ice on the roads and pavements may contain chemical de-icing products as mentioned above, so always check for ice balls and remove them, and check the paws over for ice balls while out walking if your dog suddenly seems uncomfortable or starts limping. Dogs that have very hairy feet are particularly susceptible to picking up lumps of ice- try to keep the hair around their paws trimmed down in the winter to help to minimise this.
Antifreeze and de-icer products used for cars can be another problem- these products are highly poisonous to dogs, and also have a sweet smell and taste that can encourage pets to ingest them. If your dog gets de-icer on his paws, he might lick this off, again another good reason to wash and dry your dog’s paws off once you get back from your walk.
Top Tips
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Possible products to help sore pawsMushers Secret Paw Protector Wax 60 Grams
Apply a thin even layer of balm just before going out for a wintery walk. After the walk wipe your dog’s paws with a warm washcloth to remove snow, ice and ice melt. Then apply another layer of balm to soothe any irritation and to keep them from drying out. Mushers Secret Paw Protector Wax can be found in many online stores. If you can’t find Mushers Paw Protector then Vaseline is an acceptable alternative. 
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