How to protect your dog's paws in winter: boots, balm and salt

Rock salt, chemical de-icers, ice and frozen ground can dry out paw pads, open up small cracks and irritate the skin between the toes. The fix is simple: boots for salty or icy routes, a balm for dry pads, and a quick rinse and dry after every winter walk.

What salt, ice and cold do to paws

Pads are tough, but winter throws a lot at them at once.

• De-icing salt and grit can dry and roughen pads and sting any small cracks. Some de-icers are also harmful if swallowed, and dogs lick their feet.
• Ice and packed snow can build up into hard balls between the toes, especially on dogs with long fur on their feet.
• Cold, dry air, outdoors and in heated homes, can leave pads dry and more likely to crack.
• Sharp ice and frozen ground can nick a pad.

Keeping the fur between the pads trimmed short gives ice less to cling to. A groomer can do it if you are not comfortable with scissors near paws.

When boots help

Not every dog needs boots. For a short walk on clear ground, a rinse afterward may be all your dog needs. Boots earn their place when:

• your daily route is heavily salted or gritted
• paths are icy and your dog needs extra grip
• your dog already has dry or sore pads
• ice keeps balling up between their toes
• you walk through slush or rain that soaks feet through

Our two boot sets

Both come as a set of four with a drawstring lock to keep them on, an anti-skid rubber sole, waterproof fabric and something reflective for dark evenings. The difference is warmth and size range.

Pick the Anti-Slip Dog Boots, Set of 4 for cold weather. They have a warm fleece lining and a textured rubber sole that grips wet sidewalks and icy paths, so they work as a winter boot rather than just a rain cover. Pull the cord, lock the toggle and they stay put.

Pick the Waterproof Dog Rain Boots, Set of 4 for wet, salty sidewalks and for very small dogs. They keep grit, salt and rain off paws, the rubber-dot soles grip wet ground instead of skating over it, and the range starts at an XXS for toy breeds of 0.5 to 1 kg (1 to 2 lb). No fleece lining is listed.

The widest sizes are 5 cm (2 in) and 5.3 cm (2.1 in). If your dog's paw measures wider than that, neither set will fit.

How to measure paws for boots

1. Stand your dog on a sheet of paper so their weight is on the paw. Paws spread under weight, so do not measure a lifted foot.
2. Mark either side of the paw at its widest point.
3. Measure between the marks. That is the paw width.
4. Match it to the paw width column in the size guide. Body weight does not decide boot size.

Measure a front paw, since front paws are usually the widest, and check a back paw too. You choose one size per set, so go by the widest paw.

Getting your dog used to boots

Plenty of dogs high-step like a show pony the first time. Go slowly and keep it positive.

1. Let your dog sniff the boots, then put one on indoors for a minute while you offer praise or a treat. Take it off before they start to fuss.
2. Over a few days, build up to two boots, then all four, and let them walk around the house.
3. Pull the drawstring snug and lock it, but check you can still slip a finger in at the top.
4. Try a short walk outside before a long one.
5. After each walk, take the boots off and check for rubbing or red spots.

Boots are for walks. Take them off once you are home so paws can dry and breathe.

Paw balm: when and how

Balm helps soften dry pads and noses. Use it on clean, dry pads after a walk or at bedtime, and rub a thin layer into each pad. Keep it off cuts, bleeding cracks and broken skin, which need your vet. If your pet has sensitive skin, patch test on a small area first.

We stock three balms. All three are listed as safe if licked, and for cats as well as dogs.

• The Lick-Safe Paw and Nose Balm Stick, 40g twists up like a deodorant, so nothing gets on your fingers or under your nails, and it softens pads without leaving a greasy film on your floors. It is made for noses and paw pads.
• The Paw and Nose Balm Stick, 50g is also a twist-up stick, with shea butter, aloe vera and orange extract, for noses, paw pads and elbows.
• The Beeswax Paw and Nose Balm Tin, 50g is a botanical formula of natural beeswax, avocado resin and jojoba seed oil in a screw-top tin. Warm a little on a fingertip so it spreads, then work it into pads, nose or elbows.

Choose a stick if you want quick, clean-handed application at the door. Choose the tin if you like to massage balm in by hand.

An after-walk routine

1. Rinse or wipe. Dip each paw in a bowl of lukewarm water, or wipe it with a damp cloth, to lift off salt, grit and de-icer. Wipe the legs and belly too if your dog walked through slush.
2. Dry thoroughly. Towel each paw and get between the toes and pads, where damp and salt hide.
3. Check. Gently spread the toes and look for cracks, cuts, redness, swelling, stuck grit or ice.
4. Balm if needed. If pads feel dry or rough, rub in a thin layer.

Doing this every time also means there is less salt left for your dog to lick off their own feet.

When to see the vet

Call your vet if you notice any of these:

• deep cracks, bleeding or a cut on a pad
• limping that carries on after the walk
• swelling, heat or an odor from the paw
• constant licking or chewing at the feet
• skin that looks pale or gray after time in the cold, which can be a sign of frostbite

If you think your dog has licked up or eaten de-icer, call your vet straight away.

Still not sure?

Email contact@honeyandpaw.com with your dog's paw width and we will help you choose a boot size, or ask us anything about the balms.