Here is a simple remedy for preventing ice buildup on your dog’s paws, whether your companion is a German Shepherd, Havanese or a size breed in between.
Dogs notoriously love the snow; they are passionate about snow in ways that humans struggle to appreciate, and the hazard of long walks through sticky snow is the potential for ice balls developing in the pads of their feet.
These ice balls can be very painful for a dog if they are not removed and can cut the pads and leave raw abrasions.
How do you keep ice from forming on your dog’s paws?
On sub-zero days, my German shepherd will suddenly stop short and will drop to the ground to chew at the pads of his feet.
What I have discovered is that he is trying to chew the ice balls that have developed between his pads.
The ice balls appear to irritate his feet and make it difficult to carry on walking without giving attention to these icy nuisances.
Vaseline, Ice Ball Solution
Rather than dealing with the constant stopping to clean the painful ice from my German shepherd’s feet, I found that putting a small dollop of Vaseline on each paw helps deter the ice from forming in the first place.
Surprisingly a small smear of Vaseline on each paw, spread through the hairs, with particular attention being paid to the pad surface, stops the ice from forming.
This quick and inexpensive solution saved my dog from having to deal with the discomfort of the abrasive ice stopping him from enjoying long walks in the snow.
A word of caution: ensure you wipe your dog’s feet prior to coming into the house.
The Vaseline will continue to leave an oily residue on floor surfaces, even after a lengthy walk.
Consider carefully wiping between the dog’s pads to ensure no greasy messes linger on floors.
Vaseline is a wonderful solution for preventing ice buildup on your dog’s feet.
