How to protect dogs’ paws from chemicals in winter?

The dangers of ice cannot be overemphasized. In winter, along with the increase in the number of people’s visits to trauma centers, the number of visits of pet owners to veterinarians increases. If the former suffer due to untimely treatment of slippery roads, the latter have to face problems from such treatment. Reagents do not have the best effect on the health of animals, and whether they are natural or artificial. In order to reduce the risks of problems, you need to know how to protect dogs’ paws from reagents.

What are the different types of de-icing agents?

In order to prevent slipping and contribute to the melting of ice on roads and sidewalks, city services use special de-icing agents. Among them there are natural means – sand or fine granite rubble and artificial, obtained in laboratory conditions by chemical means – sodium chloride, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, technical salt or sand-salt mixture. The safest for dogs’ paws is sand. All other substances are dangerous to the health of the animal to some extent. Even granite crumbs, which get clogged between the toes of the paw pads and traumatize the delicate skin. Or a sand and salt mixture that actually eats away at the skin and causes severe pain to the animal.

In slushy, snowy weather, solid substances are usually used, whereas in dry, icy weather, liquid chemicals are used. Unfortunately, there are practically no environmentally friendly de-icing agents available. This is primarily due to the fact that on icy roads they react chemically with by-products such as gasoline vapors, exhaust gases, motor oils and industrial salt. In addition, reagents are often used without observing technical conditions and hygienic norms, which has a bad effect not only on the health of animals, but also on people.

What are the dangers of de-icing agents for dogs?

Many pet owners believe that the danger of ice remedies lies solely in injuries to the pads of the paws. But this is not the case. The level of harm from chemicals is much greater than one might imagine:

• The reagents contain substances that irritate the animal’s skin when they come into contact with it. If the interaction of de-icing agents with the skin occurs frequently or for a long time, they corrode the skin, sores and ulcers are formed on the pads of the paws, causing unbearable pain to the dog when walking.
• It is not uncommon for dogs to develop dermatitis with itching and pain after repeated contact with chemicals. Untimely detection of the problem or ignoring it leads to the development of bacterial infections that require more serious and prolonged treatment.
• During a walk, dogs always sniff the ground, trees, bushes, and this leads to animals inhaling dangerous chemicals. As a result, the strongest allergic reaction.
• Constantly wiping, not washing paws after a walk, you can not be sure that the reagents will not remain on them and the dog will not lick them during personal hygiene procedures. In addition, the animal often tries tags, snow or other objects on the street with its tongue. In this way, dangerous substances can enter the digestive tract, leading to serious poisoning.

Small breeds of dogs are at risk because they have more delicate skin on their paws, which is susceptible to chemical burns from reagents and injuries from ice shards and sprinkled gravel.

Signs of an animal’s reaction to reagents

Any reaction to a reagent is similar to symptoms characteristic of various diseases. Owners often associate them with something else. Therefore, it is important to timely contact a veterinarian, who will correctly diagnose the disease and prescribe the appropriate treatment.

Reaction types

• inflammation of the skin between the pads, cracked pads, wounds, ulcers, burning sensation, itching, swelling, hot localized areas
• discharge from the eyes or nose, increased lacrimation or salivation
• Abrupt swelling of mucous membranes, red eyes, swelling of the muzzle
• Diarrhea, vomiting, food refusal, weakness, lethargy, fever.

Knowing all possible reactions to the reagents, the owner can navigate in time to prevent severe consequences of their influence on the dog’s body. If skin irritations, dermatitis and wounds on the paws are not so difficult to treat, then acute conditions associated with swelling, vomiting and diarrhea require immediate contact with a veterinary clinic.

How do I protect my dog’s paws from chemicals?

1. Before every walk, treat your pet’s paw pads with a special cream, wax or petroleum jelly to create a protective barrier that prevents harmful substances, inflammation and cracking.

Since many paw protectors can leave greasy stains on the floor, it is best to apply them directly near the door 5 minutes before going outdoors.

2. If your pet is prone to allergic reactions or has sensitive skin, purchase special dog shoes or socks with rubberized soles. The shoes should meet the following requirements:

• waterproof material
• absence of rough seams and protruding areas inside the product
• rubber grooved anti-slip sole
• reliable fasteners, firmly fixing the shoe on the paw
• suitable size

Get your dog used to the shoes early so that it is not his first time out on the ice. Start with shoeing on the front paws for a few minutes, then on the back paws, increasing the time the animal stays in the shoes every day. When the dog will stand firmly on his feet in shoes, move around the apartment without paying attention to it – he is ready for walks on the street.

3. Try to avoid areas that have been treated with de-icing agents. If your dog has walked on a road that has recently been treated with de-icing agents, take him out onto clean snow and try to clean his paws.

4. After every walk, make sure to wash your dog’s paws with warm water (never hot!). If it’s icy outside, use a pet shampoo besides water, preferably a dermatological, revitalizing or emollient shampoo. Do not forget about the abdominal area and intimate area. They can also get reagents on them, which after licking will get into the pet’s stomach or leave traces on the skin in the form of inflammatory processes.

Even after a walk, waxy cream applied before the walk remains on the paws. To avoid dirty, greasy marks on the floor of the house, it is best to wipe the pads with wipes before crossing the threshold of the apartment.

5. If wounds, redness or cracks are found on the paws after washing, lubricate the pads with a wound-healing ointment or special cream after treatment with an antiseptic agent such as chlorhexidine. For fast healing, put a baby sock on the paw for a while to avoid licking the injured area.

6. Baths and soaks of chamomile decoction followed by application of healing veterinary ointments are suitable for healing ulcers. Even if there are no wounds on the paws, it will be useful to periodically wash the paws in a decoction of chamomile (2-3 tablespoons of the plant for half a liter of water – boil, infuse, cool to room temperature).

If the dog has long hair between the toes, ice balls may form on it during a winter walk, traumatizing the skin. Gently trimming the hair down to the level of the pads will greatly reduce the risk of trauma to the skin on the paws.

Products to protect dogs’ paws from reagents

During icy weather, the most effective products are those containing wax or paraffin. Thanks to these components, a greasy film is formed on the skin of the paw, protecting it from reagents and frostbite. But they work only at minus temperatures, solidifying on the paw and protecting it from the harmful effects of chemicals. If the street is slushy, mixed with reagents, such protection will not be full-fledged, because the wax on the paw will not harden.

In the pet store for winter paw protection you can buy:

• Dermoscent Bio Balm ointment – has a protective and soothing effect, regenerates and nourishes the skin
• Trixie Paw Care cream – protects and improves the condition of paw pads, prevents their traumatization by ice and salt
• Nutri Vet Pad Guard Wax – has protective properties, promotes rapid healing of cracks, wounds and abrasions
• Beaphar Feet Balsam – softens paw pads, prevents inflammation and cracks
• Trixie Paw Care Stick – protects paw pads from hardening and cracking, nourishes and moisturizes the skin

On sale, with difficulty, but you can find special devices for dogs’ paws – disposable sobahilas (dog shoe covers). These are polyethylene socks with two clips on the sides, which are matched to the size of the animal’s paws. They are excellent protection against chemicals, but do not protect against slipping on icy roads.

What should I do if I get a chemical burn on my dog’s paw?

After a winter walk, dogs can have two main problems on their paws – cuts from sharp ice lumps or chemical burns. In both cases, the animal will have difficulty moving around. Periodically stop and cushion the paw. Bloody footprints can be seen in the snow.

If the cut manifests itself as a bleeding wound, then swelling, soreness, burning, itching and a limited hot (to the touch) surface will occur on the paw from a chemical burn with reagents.

First aid in both cases consists of:

• immediate washing of the paw in warm water using dog shampoo
• treating the paw with an antiseptic – chlorhexidine or miramistine
• application of wound healing ointment – Divopride, Cymedica Skinmed Super Hydrogel, Microcyn Dermodacyn Skin Antiseptic Hydrogel.

In case of chemical burns of paws from reagents, the animal must be shown to a veterinarian.

During the walk, bandages are applied to the paws and boots or special dog slippers are worn.

Knowing how to protect your dog’s paws from chemicals can help you avoid winter problems and enjoy fun walks and real snow adventures. Most furry four-legged friends love winter, playing in the snow and chasing snowballs. Take care of their paws and let nothing mar their winter walks.

FAQ: Protecting Dogs’ Paws from Winter De-Icing Agents

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