Winter Can Be RUFF On A Pooch's Paws

News provided by

Robin Leedy & Associates

Feb 03, 2016, 08:00 ET


Fort Worth, Texas (PRWEB) February 03, 2016 -- With 78 million dogs in the US come 312 million paws to care for, and giving them special attention is important during the winter season. “Many pet owners believe that a dog’s paws are completely resistant to cold weather and rough terrain, but it’s untrue, especially for dogs that spend more time indoors than out,” explains Dr. Jim Lowe, technical services veterinarian for Tomlyn® pet products (http://www.tomlyn.com). “While the pads of their paws do offer protection human feet don’t have, there are steps pet owners can take to reduce the chance of injury to their dog’s paws.

  • Get Trimmed: Sometimes dogs can accumulate ice-balls sticking to the fur between their toes. You may be able to reduce the chance of ice-ball accumulation by clipping the hair between your dog’s toes. If you’re not comfortable doing this on your own but think your dog can benefit from it, speak with your veterinarian or local pet store with a vet onsite, as they may offer this service.
  • Wipe Your Paws Please: A dog’s first instinct is to lick his or her paws if something doesn’t feel right. “After coming in from a walk, be sure to wipe your dog’s paws off to remove any de-icer products. And, if you live in the city, you may want to rinse off your dog’s paws to make sure there isn’t any antifreeze from the street as this could be toxic,” explains Dr. Lowe. “After a cold walk, warm water on the paws feels good, too.”
  • Protect Their Pads: We know how dry, cracked heels or hands can be painful – it’s the same for Fido. Help keep his paws moisturized by applying a special pad cream like Tomlyn® Deep Moisturizing Pad Cream with Protecta-Pad®. A daily application can help avoid irritation and injury, plus help repair damaged tissue. “Originally created for working dogs, Tomlyn Protecta-Pad is perfect for any dog, especially city dogs that walk mainly on cement or where sidewalks are treated with chemicals for ice removal,” explains Dr. Lowe. With a light minty smell, the non-waxy Tomlyn Protecta-Pad cream cools and soothes, leaving the tissue feeling soft, and increasing the pliability of the pad, maintaining the resiliency consistent with normal, healthy tissue.
  • BOOT-iful Paws: Besides being adorable, booties for dogs provide coverage and can also prevent calcium and salt from getting stuck between toes, causing irritation.
  • Safer Salt: Use pet-friendly ice/snow melt for your sidewalks and driveway, whenever possible.
  • Massage: According to the ASPCA, dogs love massage as much as humans. A quick paw massage can relax your dog and promote better circulation. Rub between the pads on the bottom of the paw and between each toe (you can combine massage and applying Tomlyn Protecta-Pad moisturizing cream in one step!)

Tomlyn®, a pet health and wellness company founded in 1976, carries a complete line of scientifically developed, veterinarian-approved pet health products. The company’s wide range of product categories range from immune support, vitamins and supplements and hairball remedies, to joint and hip support, calming aids and sanitizers. Known as the maker of Nutri-Cal® and Laxatone®, Tomlyn is owned by the ninth-largest veterinary pharmaceutical company in the world.

Laura Giardina, Robin Leedy & Associates, http://rlapr.com/, +1 (914) 241-0086 Ext: 1020, [email protected]