Road salt can irritate and dry out your dog's paws. You protect them by avoiding salted paths, cleaning the paws with lukewarm water after the walk and drying them well. With redness, cracks or limping, your dog belongs at the vet.
Why road salt is hard on paws
The pads are tough, but not indestructible. Salt draws moisture out of the skin, and on top come cold and sharp-edged grit. The result is dry, cracked pads that can pull or sting with every step. The second problem: dogs lick their paws, and salt residue can irritate the stomach and gut. So the rule is: clean first, before the dog gets to lick.
| When | What you do |
|---|---|
| Before the walk | with long fur, trim the hair between the pads so snow clumps and salt residue do not collect there. Apply paw balm thinly |
| On the way | avoid salted paths where you can, and use grass verges or unsalted paths. The dog should not drink from puddles at the roadside or lick slush |
| Afterwards | rinse the paws with lukewarm water or wipe them with a damp cloth, also between the pads, then dry thoroughly |
| While drying | look for cracks, redness and sore spots. If anything looks off, see the vet |
Before: trim the fur and apply balm
With long-haired dogs, snow and salt residue catch between the pads, and the clumps get more uncomfortable with every step. Trimming the fur there makes cleaning easier. Do it carefully or have the groomer do it. According to the manufacturer, a paw balm like the Yuup! Pfotenbalsam keeps the pads supple and protects them from snow and road salt in winter. It also has a protective layer against slipping, according to the manufacturer, which is useful on smooth floors indoors.
On the way: choose your paths
The simplest measure costs nothing: walk on paths that are not salted, where there are any, for example at the edge or on grass verges. The puddles at the roadside often contain dissolved de-icer. Your dog does not have to taste them, even if he sees it differently.
After the walk: rinse, dry, look
At home, clean the paws with lukewarm water, not hot, or with a damp cloth. Do not forget the spaces between the pads, where most of it stays. Then dry thoroughly, because damp paws crack faster in the cold. For mud, the Trixie paw cleaner with silicone bristles helps, which according to its description can be cleaned in the dishwasher. While drying, look at the pads: cracks, redness or sore spots are a matter for the vet, just like a dog that licks constantly or limps.
And the rest of the dog?
When the paws get their care routine, it is worth a thought for the rest: a dog that is cold does not like walking. At what temperature coats help is covered in When does a dog get cold?. What else to keep an eye on after the walk is in Ears, paws, coat. You will find care products in the Care & Health collection, coats and jackets in the Jackets & Coats collection.