December 13, 2022, 10:05 am – Public News Service – OSN
As a rule, domestic dogs are very fond of winter, and walking through a snowy forest or park gives them great pleasure. But there is one big “but” – the reagents with which public utilities generously process the streets of cities.
Poisonous salt on the sidewalks harms not only your favorite boots, but also the dog’s paws. Public News Service he will tell you why reagents are so dangerous and why shoes for dogs are not a whim of the owners and not a tribute to fashion, but a necessity.
What is the danger of reagents for animals
To rid roads and sidewalks of ice, they are treated with special products that quickly melt the ice, but can cause serious harm to the health of pets. They include the whole “Mendeleev’s table”. For example, calcium chloride can cause serious allergic reactions up to Quincke’s edema, bischofite (or magnesium salt) contains many toxic elements, sodium formate causes respiratory irritation.
You have probably noticed how much chemistry from city roads harms our shoes and even the car body. What can we say about unprotected dog paws. Corrosive chemicals literally corrode the skin on the pads and between the fingers, leaving painful wounds and cracks. But this is still half the trouble.
If the reagents are not removed from the paws in time, the dog will definitely try to do it on its own and, when licked, will most likely get chemical poisoning. Even if the consequences of exposure to harmful substances are not immediately visible, their accumulation in the body will not have the best effect on the health of the animal.
If you come from the street and see that the dog has become lethargic and weak, refuses to eat, has a fever, vomiting or, even worse, the muzzle has begun to swell, do not pull and immediately show your pet to the veterinarian. Delay can cost a four-legged life.
If there are no alarming symptoms, it is enough to thoroughly rinse the paws with plenty of warm water immediately after the walk, using a special shampoo. If you notice that the dog managed to lick its paws, it will not be superfluous to give it an absorbent to avoid intoxication.
How to protect paws from reagents
Finding cosmetics for paw care in winter is not a problem today at the pet store. A special wax helps well, which is applied before going outside. It not only creates a protective layer on the pads, but also helps prevent frostbite and injury, and also softens the skin.
If it is not possible to immediately wash the paws, for example, a trip by car is ahead, special wet wipes will come to the rescue.
However, the most reliable way of protection is, of course, shoes for dogs. You can buy it in almost any pet store or do it yourself. A pattern from the Internet will help you sew shoes for dogs.
Dog shoe size – how to choose
As with human shoes, it is important not to make a mistake with the size. On sale there are different options for large, small and medium breeds, but even representatives of the same breed can have completely different dimensions.
The following technique will help to correctly determine the size of shoes for dogs: we take a white sheet of paper, put a pet’s paw on it and draw a pencil around the contour. We measure the distance from the heel to the tip of the longest claw. Shoes should be taken with a small margin.
Buying the right boots isn’t everything. Now you need to convince the animal that you need to wear them. Many owners wonder how to train a dog to wear shoes.
To begin with, you can put on a new thing only on the front paws, and leave the hind legs free. In no case should you scold your pet for trying to take off his shoes. It is much more effective to use the method of positive reinforcement, that is, to praise and encourage a treat. So the animal will form the correct association, and after a while the dog himself will give paws to be shod before a walk.
