A Good Morning Woof to you all!

The great thaw has set in here in Germany and for the last week or so there have been talks of flooding everywhere. Near us, there’s nothing all that bad going on and the little creek where I play has been mighty ferocious but still no problem for a big dog like me to wade in.

But now that we’re taking a break from some of the snow madness, I’m going to take a opportunity to get my paws in shape again. Walking around on all that salt and snow as rough on them! Mom and dad even bought me some snow booties this year with anti-slip pads and long velcro straps because I was constantly getting big balls of ice wedged between my toes while we walked…but those things are the worst!

Yes, they are the right size because they actually fit around my paws…but honestly, I have no idea was sort of crazy flat-footed beast is supposed to be able to wear these things for more than 30 seconds. Mom put them all on me, I stood there looking for forlorn, we walked outside and I had already lost one boot. Stepped in a few inches of snow, two more fell off. Not that I was too sad because I hate them and they make me look so uncool. But what the heck? Now they’re talking about making me fleece booties again. Joy.

In case your hoomans are not trying to make you look totally lame, here’s a few more tips to keep your paws feeling smooth and healthy when the roads are filled with ice melters and snow drifts.

  • Wipe paws with a wash cloth or give them a quick rinse in a bucket to get salt and other chemical residues off. Not only will these dry out puppy paws, but they can also cause you to lose your lunch out of both orifices…and I’m sure no one wants to clean that up!
  • After washing paws, put on your favorite doggie paw salve or Vasoline to prevent chapping, cracking and to soothe irritated paws. Yes, Vasoline is safe for your dog to lick and ingest but I wouldn’t let him eat a whole jar of it. Apparently it makes for some very loose stools and unpleasant greasy fur cleanups, the likes of which you will never want to experience again.
  • Keep the hair between toes trimmed shorter than the pads to keep snow and ice balls from forming. Not only does the build up give plenty of time for salt to soak in while walking, but it also becomes very slippery once the bottom of the foot is all covered in slush and snow.
  • Trim nails to keep the paw from overextending while walking, reducing space for snow to build up between toes. Imagine walking around with a big clump of cotton wool stuck between your toes. Doesn’t seem very comfortable, right?

What’s your trick for keeping your paws silky smooth during the winter? Or do you just grin and bear it?

Oh, and if you haven’t entered my pawesome giveaway for By Nature Organics dog & cat food, time is running out! Get your entries in by midnight EST tomorrow (January 13th)!