Dot & Jerry Underfoot recently asked me how do cats & dogs walk on snow & ice without their paws freezing.  I pawnder on it & didn’t have an answer for them.  So we did some digging & learned that like many animals dogs & cats have a wagnificent  supply of blood vessels under our well-dogsigned layer of soft yet tough padding which keep our feet from feeling the cold like huMom or other humans.  Although we can withstand cold better than our humans we are not as equipped as say our wild relatives such as the wooftastic wolf or the king of winter cats, the lynx. They can withstand much longer & colder weather better than us domesticated beast. That’s why it is impawtant to take some winter pawcautions.  Hi, CEO Olivia here to dogscuss winter paw, skin & nose pawtection.

For both us cats & dogs exposure to the cold air & snow can cause dry, itchy skin, cracked paws or discomfort during cat outings & dog walkies. Extra care also needs to be taken to ensure paws are kept clean from ice-melting chemicals, which can be harmful if left on the skin or ingested.  I nose for many cats like Dot & Jerry Underfoot going outside in the winter isn’t an issue; they are indoor beast but we nose some felines do go outside & winter ice-melting chemicals are an issue.  That’s why I’m hear to dogscuss steps you can take to pawvide care & relief for your cat’s & canine’s irritated paws, nose & skin this winter.

For us dog’s trimming the hair between our paw pads & around the paws serves several functions: it minimizes painful ice balls from forming on our paws; it reduces the amount of road salt & de-icing chemicals that are picked up; & it makes it easier for you humans to clean & apply moisturizing balm or salve to our paws after our walkies.  I’m not too sure my feline furiends would put up with this kind of grooming.

For both us dogs & cats it’s impawtant keep our nails trimmed all year round, including the winter. Long nails tend to splay our paws while walking, making it easier for irritants to get between paw pads.

Brushing our coats on a regularly will help get rid of dead hair, distribute natural oils throughout the coat, & help invigorate the skin. I nose Dot & Jerry Underfoot will allow brushing & we are most certain most felines will also.

Keeping our paws clean by washing & drying our paws making sure to get the area between our toes after going on walkies or returning from cat outings is impawtant.  HuMom uses ACV (apple cider vinegar) mixed with warm water; not hot. This removes any de-icing chemicals that may be on our paws. You humans can use this opportunity to inspect our paws for cracks or redness. Once the paw is clean, you can apply a paw balm or salve to sooth any irritation or treat dryness. Avoid using moisturizers made for humans, they can soften paws & leave them vulnerable to injury.

If dry skin is a problem, consider getting a humidifier to control the humidity in your house or if you use a woodstove like us put a pot of water on top of the woodstove.  We have a dragon that huMom fills each morning.  When it heats up steam shoots out it’s nostrils; it’s pawsome. Being exposed to cold, wet weather followed by warm, dry air inside our homes can cause us to develop itchy, flakey skin.  A humidifier or pot of water will help.

Although it’s impawtant to keep our feet clean, it is recommended you avoid bathing us too often in the winter. I’m not just yapping this because I think baths are YUCK. Bathing can removes essential oils, which can dry out our skin. If you must wash us dogs in the winter months, use a gentle moisturizing shampoo.  There are water-less bathing options but I haven’t sniffed out enough about them to feel comfortable recommending any.

Dog boots can help avoiding contact between us dog’s feet & harmful chemicals but many of us do not like to wear them.  I have wagnificent boots we would recommend Muttluks.  Here is their Canadian site & this  is their USA site both offer sizing tips.  There are times that I can not wear boots especially after a seizure episode.  My sense of balance is off & tripping is more dangerous than not wearing boots.  I’ll be honest, huMom carries them but I don’t always wear them. Instead we use a paw balm or salve as a protective layer on my paw pads. Both us dogs & cats can benefit from a paw balm or salve. You should still wash our paws afterwards to make sure your pooch doesn’t accidentally lick any chemicals left on its paws. You can then reapply paw balm or salve to keep out feet & paws healthy.  Use just a little & be sure to rub it in well to avoid us leaving paw prints everywhere.

You can make your own Balm for noses & paws & here is how:

BALM FOR NOSES & PAWS

• 1/2 Cup of Natural Beeswax
• 1/4 Cup of Organic Coconut Oil
• 1/4 Cup of Organic Olive Oil
• 2 Tablespoons of Shea Butter
• 10 – 20 drops of Vitamin E Oil (natural pawservative & pawsome for our skin)
• 10 – 20 drops of CBD Hemp Oil (optional)

1. Melt beeswax in a small jar in a pot of water over medium-high heat, stirring often, until completely melted.  This should take 10 minutes.
2. Add coconut oil, olive oil, & shea butter.  Heat until all ingredients are melted, stirring often.
3. Remove from heat & add Vitamin E oil drops, stir well.
4. Pour mixture into storage containers or molds.
5. Let sit for 1 hour until mixture solidifies.

 

If you would pawfer to pawchase a salve CBD Dog Heal has a wagnificent pawduct, NOURISH to help us dogs who suffer with dry noses, elbows & paws.  It available through our store knottytoysforgooddogs.com

 

Here is an older short video of me, CEO Olivia strutting along in my winter booties.

 

We all nose how ruff our Canadian winter can be. So we want you & your 4 leggers to be safe, pawtected while still enjoying the pawtastic outdoors.

Have a pawsome week, CEO Olivia, Dot & Jerry Underfoot💜

 

 

PS 🐾 Looking for wagnifient healthy & furbulously fun toys or pawsibly a supplement for the well being of your pawtacular good dog or cat? Shop Naturally

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