Snow Safety for your Dog!

12/14/2021 (Permalink)

Keep your Best Friend Safe!

We all know dogs love a good run around in the freshly fallen snow! But it is important for us to keep our furry best friends safe, so they can keep having fun!

Is snow safe for dogs' paws?

This is a complex question! There are some risks to look out for, including these potential hazards:

• Freezing temperatures and frostbite
• Toxic chemicals on sidewalks and streets, usually in the form of ice melting salts
• Sharp ice
• Objects hidden under the snow

How to Protect Your Best Friend:

Regular Grooming

Make sure your dogs' paws are winter-ready! Trim long-haired dogs to make it less likely for bits of ice, salt crystals, or ice melting chemicals to dry and cling to their skin. Especially trim any extra hair growing on their paws.

Regular Cleaning

Avoiding all the ice melting salt on the roads and sidewalks after a snowstorm can be almost impossible. So just be sure to clean your dog’s paws as soon as you get back home from your walk! Warm water and a cloth should do the trick. You should always wipe down your dog anyway, and make sure they don’t stay wet for too long. After drying them off with towels, let them sit by the fireplace if you have one.

Shorter Walks

Dogs should not be left in the cold for long periods of time because they are also at risk for frostbite on paws and hypothermia. In general, you should avoid letting your dog spend hours out in the cold. In winter, frequent short walks are better, than one extremely long walk.

Dog Boots

Just as you wear boots in the winter to protect your own feet, dog shoes or booties can prevent injury and protect your dogs paws! They can protect your dog’s paws from salt, ice balls, and sharp items that may be hidden under the snow. Your dog might not love them at first, but with time and patience, you can train your dog to enjoy wearing their booties!

Beware of Too-Cold Weather

It’s good to keep in mind that if the weather is too cold for you, it’s also too cold for your dog. Just as you can’t leave a dog in a hot car in the summer, you can’t leave a dog in vehicles alone in the winter either as it could get far too cold. Any extreme temperature is dangerous.

Be Mindful!

Pay attention to your dog’s behavior and check for any signs of discomfort or distress. Make sure to get your dog medical attention if they show any signs of being in pain.

Keep your best friend safe, and we will worry about the rest. Call Danielle at 610-506-8919 if you have any damage from winter storms! SERVPRO of Southern Delaware County & West Chester is here to help!