including Tips for Allergy Sufferers
Unpaid Advertising
Paw care is on the to-do list of many dog owners during the cold months. Our dogs' paws are a wonder of nature. They do a lot of work and carry our beloved companions through the world all year round.
That's why our dogs' paws deserve our attention, and a certain level of care can definitely do no harm.
The State of Our Paws
Here's what things look like for us:
- Murphy has healthy and very resilient paws
- Archie is an allergy sufferer, had serious problems with interdigital cysts last year, and is very sensitive on his paws due to his pink skin
Paw Protection Against Salt and Gravel
Pawz – the "Balloons" You Pull On
Dog boots don't stay on Archie's short little legs very well, and he moves very reluctantly when wearing them. To protect and spare his paws on wet or damp (salt-wet) surfaces, we use Pawz.
Pawz are like small, slightly sturdier balloons and are available at pet shops here. You can of course find them online too. They come in various sizes and each pack contains 12 pieces.
We use size M for Archie. At first the top opening is quite tight, but it stretches a little with repeated use and then fits well.
To use them sustainably, we wear the Pawz as often as possible. After a wintry or muddy walk, I wash the balloons on both sides and let them air dry. Not near a radiator — otherwise they go brittle quickly.
For us, it's time to say goodbye to them when they get holes.
Baby Socks with Vet Wrap
In dry weather but on ground with too many stones, we use baby socks with VetWrap. When fastening them, make sure that with the VetWrap on the front paws you don't constrict the dewclaw. The best approach is to wrap the bandage snugly just above it — firm, but not too tight.
That's how we "hike" through town or the forest, and we can enjoy our walks in comfort with this paw-wear. Our outfit never fails to spark conversations with passers-by.
Cleaning and Washing
After our walk, the paws get washed in the shower. For Murphy it's usually just lukewarm water. For Archie, depending on the environment, I also use a care shampoo fairly often to prevent an allergic flare-up.
First, the right temperature. Lukewarm is generally ideal. If it was very cold outside, the water should definitely not be too warm. Otherwise the contrast is too great and it feels hotter than it actually is.
Second, drying afterwards. Take your time, get comfortable on the floor with your dog, and do it thoroughly. The spaces between the toes need to be properly dry to avoid possible inflammation.
Care Products for the Paws
Paw Balm for Cracked Pads
The evening on the sofa continues with our wellness treatment. The washing, the temperature differences between indoors and outdoors, and the dry heating air can easily leave our dogs' pads brittle and cracked.
Here we use various products: either the "Meilenläufer" by Feele, "High Five" by Bellydog, or simply udder cream with calendula from any drugstore or pharmacy. The paw balm is applied to the pads and gently massaged in.
Minor Injuries or Inflammation
For minor injuries, or when inflammatory processes start brewing in Archie's toe spaces again, we reach for the "little first-aid kit" and the repair balm "Hautzauber".
We have personally had great experiences with various natural products from Feele and also from Bellydog. That's why I recommend them to you and share them here. Other products I have already heard and read a lot of good things about are those from Lila Loves It.
Last but Not Least of Paw Care
Trimming Nails
I also count nail clipping as part of paw care. It comes into use every few weeks, depending on need. For us, mainly to trim the dewclaws and Archie's outer left nail on his back paw.
The outer nail on his right hind leg had to be amputated 4 months after he moved in with us. Archie had presumably caught his nail on a grate.
After a bacterial infection had worked its way along the bone — and his epilepsy was demanding a lot of our attention at the same time — the nail had to be surgically removed.
He got through it bravely and has no impairment from it. It goes without saying that I now check the length of his nails regularly!
Conclusion on Paw Care
Paw care isn't rocket science. So keep casting the occasional watchful eye over your beloved four-legged friends' "feet" and do what's necessary so they can keep trotting through the world with you — healthy and fit.
