With springtime temperatures slowly increasing towards our scorching summers, now is a great time to start thinking about keeping your dog's paws safe. Dry and cracked paws can be extra painful when on the hiking trails or the warm pavement. Think about how painful your hands can feel in the wintertime when there is no moisture in the air and handwashing (due to germ season) leads to excessively dry and cracked skin. All you want is to slather on some thick lotion to get some relief. The same can happen to your dog's pads.
We all know not to walk dogs on black asphalt mid-day during the hot summer months. Concrete sidewalks luckily don't retain nearly as much heat as black asphalt but they can still become painful to walk on during the day. Your dog still needs to stretch their legs during the summer so morning walks or evening walks are best, but it is still important to take care of your dog's feet regardless. Here are a few simple options!
Musher's Secret is my favorite paw balm so far. Originally made to protect paws from winter elements like ice and sidewalk salt, people realized it works just as well in the desert! From Musher's Secret website..
Q: "Is Musher's Secret just for the winter? "
A: "Definitely not. Mushers protects from hot pavement and sand as well as any irritants your pet may walk through. We have many customers in Arizona and California."
Another great option is doggie boots. Years ago I bought Pepe a pair of Ruffwear boots to protect his little feet from the snow and ice when we lived back home in Illinois. We still have his little boots packed away but haven't been touched in years. I felt like this particular pair didn't fit him as well as I'd like and he would occasionally kick them off. Luckily there are several types of boots on the market to fit your dog best. If I was to try another type of boots, these Hiware dog boots would be at the top of my list. They are longer and have 2 velcro straps for a better fit. These neoprene dog boots also look like they would be a great fit too!
If you do try dog boots, slowly introduce your dog to them. Most people put just one boot on, not all 4 at once. It's pretty comical to watch but you can distract them from their new footware, with a favorite activity like a walk around the block or a game of fetch. Boots, just like a new pair of shoes for us, need to be broken in so start off with short walks and increase your adventures appropriately.
One option I wouldn't recommend for wearing on pavement are Paws waterproof boots. I've had experience with these in my animal hospitals and they are very similar to a latex balloon with the end cut off. They are great for senior pets that might slip on wood or tile floors but I've had someone tell me they almost shrink wrapped her dog's feet when walking outside in the hot Tucson heat. Again, I think these are a great indoor non-slip option, but not great for wearing outdoors when the temperatures are up.
It is always a good idea to do a general 'nose to toes' look over of your pets on a regular basis, they usually think they're getting a body massage! Looking between toes, under lip flaps, inside ears etc can help detect potential problems before they become serious.
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