Winter Dog Paws Need TLC

Does your dog have the winter paw blues?

If your pet licks his dog paws a lot his pads may be dry and irritated because of chemical de-icers, rock salt and drying indoor heat.

You can’t do much about the heat but you can try to clean up your pet’s paws when coming in after a winter walk.

Don't Let Your Pet Lick the Chemicals

Ice crystals lodged deep in the paw can be irritating and downright hurt.

And those chemical de-icers people use on sidewalks to melt the ice can dry out paw pads and are not meant to be ingested.

If your pet is licking her paws after an outing? Then she’s eating those chemicals. Yuck.

You can avoid heavily salted areas on walks and take control of your own steps and walkways with a more Pet Friendly Ice Melter. Adding sand or kitty litter will help with traction on the ice too.

Check your pet’s dog paws carefully when you come in and make sure they’re cleaned of these chemicals and ice.

Towel Off

I keep a damp towel by the door for my American Eskimo Baggins, but sometimes that’s not enough.

He’s not a dog for booties but when the paws are muddy and he has ice and salt lodged in his paw crevices he needs something more than a paw wipe down with a damp towel.

You can try a dishpan or aluminum pan of soap and water by the door but I’ve been unsuccessful at getting Baggins in such a thing without a struggle. (He loves snow but hates water—go figure)

So, in an effort to find a cleaning solution we can both live with, and without resulting to frequent dog baths, I’ve tried Nature's Pet Wipes

The citrus scent is fresh and clean smelling and they’re loaded with vitamin E and aloe vera for putting the moisturizer back into those dry paw pads. Plus, they travel easily for trips away from home.

Have you found a solution for cleaning muddy dog paws that you’re happy with? If so, share with other dog lovers like you!

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Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

Cleaning Muddy Paws  Not rated yet
Keep an empty can (like from canned tuna, soup, or fruit)--small if your dog is small, larger for larger dogs. Fill with warm water. Dip each paw in the ...

maggie  Not rated yet
If you have to walk your dog on pathways that may have been salted try paw wax as a preventative

A warm washcloth will do  Not rated yet
I use a warm washcloth to clean my dogs' paws when at home. It's safe, effective and doesn't end up in a landfill. My goal is to avoid as many things ...

Watering Can Rinse for Muddy Paws  Not rated yet
I keep a watering can on the deck by the door where the dogs enter and exit the house.Before I bring the dogs inside, I fill it with warm water and "water"...