Paw care for dogs: 6 effective tips

It's not just when it's hot or cold: paw care is important for your dog to prevent injury and pain - whatever the season. We show you 6 effective measures for paw care, with which you support the paw health of your dog.

Paw care: The right tools

Dog paws are best cared for with the right tools. If your darling finds the care rather annoying, you will be grateful if you get the paw care quickly behind you. To get it done quickly, we can recommend the following "tools":

• Fur scissors: Rounded, blunt ends prevent possible cuts during sudden, unexpected movements of your four-legged friend.

• Small foot tub: Fill a container such as a laundry tub about 5 cm high with warm water. In it you can clean and soak your dog's paws very well.

• Paw balm: A greasy paw care protects against cracks and drying of the paw pads.

Paw protection: How to prevent injuries

To make sure your pet doesn't get hurt, there are some preventative steps you can take to best protect your dog's sensitive paws:

1. fur trimming: Especially in dogs with very long fur, there may be matting between the toes and pads, which can cause your dog problems when walking. In addition, long and dense fur on the paws provides a welcome habitat for mites, among other things. In summer, foreign bodies such as thorns, splinters and small stones are more easily caught in tangles; in winter, grit, road salt and snow clumps cause an unpleasant feeling on the paws. Therefore, regularly trim the fur around the paws and between the pads and toes with fur shears.
2. care for bales: Soft and well-groomed paw pads withstand frosty floors and uneven, stony surfaces better. To prevent cracks on pads and toes, you can massage the affected areas daily with a paw balm. This not only keeps the skin supple, but also forms a greasy protective film that temporarily protects against external influences.
3. put on paw protectors: For especially sensitive dog paws, dog shoes offer the best possible protection against heat and frost and prevent foreign bodies from entering the pads or spaces between the toes.

Paw health: Proper cleaning and care

The right paw care is an ongoing topic. Therefore, it's best to include a few steps in your recurring grooming routine as a matter of course:

1. Control paws: After playing, romping around and extensive walks in the fresh air, check your four-legged friend's paws for any residue from wood, plants or pebbles. Also check whether ticks or other insects have bitten between the toes. If you find foreign bodies, remove them carefully with your fingertips or tweezers.
2. clean interstices: Clean the toes, pads and spaces between the toes with warm water. This will loosen even stubborn dirt that may not be visible, such as residues of antifreeze, pesticides and fertilizers.
3. grease the bales: To protect the paws permanently, it is helpful to grease the pads after cleaning the dog's paws. Special paw balm for dogs is particularly suitable for this purpose. Those who attach particular importance to natural ingredients can also use very fatty home remedies such as deer fat, coconut oil, petroleum jelly and milking fat as paw creams.