Reviews: Paw Protection Products for your Pet this Winter | Breed Trust

Breed Trust CEO (canine executive officer), Cody,
wearing paw protection after the Boston Blizzard of  2010

As Boston and the rest of the Northeast digs out from the blizzard that blanketed the area this holiday weekend, many pet parents are looking for the best way to protect their dog’s paws from corrosive salt and sand used on city streets and sidewalks after the storm.

In Boston and other major metropolitan areas, the salt can be particularly potent and harsh on a dog’s sensitive paw pads. As a result, we’ve tested numerous products to protect a dog’s paws from the pain and damage that the chemicals in road salt can cause, and these are a few of our favorite paw protectors:

PAWZ NATURAL RUBBER DOG BOOTS: An ingenious invention that makes one wonder, “Why didn’t I think of that”! These little reusable, disposable rubber booties resemble balloons. They are thin and lightweight enough that they don’t feel awkward or heavy on your dog causing them to walk funny. Offers protection against harmful road salt chemicals in the winter as well as protection against lawn chemicals and pesticides in spring and summer.  Correct fit is key; be sure they fit loosely around your dogs paw. If they are too snug, they will be uncomfortable and make walking difficult.
PROS: Easy to put on and take off. Reusable, just rinse and dry after each use. Rubber is indestructible.
CONS: These are thin and not insulated so they will not keep a small or elderly dog's paws warm. An option for insulation is to buy little socks and get a larger size of the Pawz to fit over the stockings.

MUTTLUKS FLEECE-LINED BOOTS: For those seeking not only paw protection from the salt, but also insulation to keep a pet’s paws from warm, we’ve found fleece-lined Muttluks to be a good choice for a bootie. They are well insulated on the inside and the exterior is weather resistant material with water and salt resistant leather soles.  The hook and loop closure keeps them snugly fastened on the dog. Like most booties, it will take time for the dog to get accustomed to walking in them. Dogs will often walk backwards or not walk at all initially because the booties feel so awkward on them. It is best to gradually start using them for short periods of time indoors before they’re required outdoors in inclement weather.
PROS: Well-insulated, well-made and don’t fall off. Reflective straps for safety at night.
CONS: Large bootie feels awkward on the dog initially and may take practice walking in them.

MUSHERS SECRET: In protected areas where only sand is used rather than salt, Musher’s Secret is a good option. It is a Vaseline-like substance made of natural waxes that is rubbed on the dog’s paws to protect them from snowballing between their toes, and cracking and burning of their pads in both severe cold and extreme heat, when the temperature of the asphalt can irritate a dog’s paw pads. It is non-toxic if a dog licks it off their paws. Originally designed to protect sled-dogs from tiny snowball build-up in the crevices of their paws.
PROS: Easy to apply and good for dogs that refuse to wear booties or other protective materials.
CONS: This is not as protective as wearable material from the harmful effects of salt chemicals on a dog’s paws and therefor may not help in highly salted areas.

Sometimes it is not only the dog’s paws that need protection, but also the pet parent that needs help traversing the icy and slippery sidewalks and roadways just after a storm. If your dog pulls while on leash or gets overly excited after a fresh snowstorm, we’ve found this human footgear to be especially effective in preventing slips and falls:

YAKTRAX PRO TRACTION CLEATS FOR SNOW AND ICE: This is our recommended option for pet parents rather than for dogs. These compact, spikeless cleats made of steel coils and heavy duty rubber easily fit over the soles of your boots or shoes and give you traction on snow and ice without damaging interior flooring so you can put them on before going out. The coils provide superior traction on snow and ice to prevent slips and falls making them an ideal option for a pet parent’s safety on icy walkways. The "Pro" design allows for hiking and running and is designed for more activing than the "Walker" style. Available in XS-XL.

What do you use to protect your pet’s paws from damage caused by the harmful chemicals used to salt public walkways and roadways? Share your tips and tricks with our readers. Please comment below.



Tweet

Read more Breed Trust Reviews or Breed Trust Blog articles.

Breed Trust is an affiliate partner with Amazon and other third party affiliate companies that represent the merchandise suggested in this article.