SNOW
DUBUQUE SALT/ICE MANAGEMENT
FOR PETS
Wanting to find a provider who uses deicing products that are safe for pets in Dubuque? Unfortunately, there are genuinely no safe alternatives for pets or humans that are 100% safe. All deicing solutions have unfavorable impacts on the environment, and Rock salt and Antifreeze are harmful to family pets.
Pet-friendly Salt is an Oxymoron
These products are less harmful to pets but are not safe. Other safer ideas are booties for your pets’ paws are shoes. They are the best route, but unfortunately, they aren’t comfortable for your pet and require time to acclimate. Exposed skin to rock salt will cause damage or severe irritation; make sure to wipe off their feet, fur, and exposed areas. It’s best practice for owners to have a container filled with pet-friendly shampoo to cleanse their pets’ feet when entering your home.
Antifreeze is fatal to Animals
to animals and humans alike. If you have a basement or an attached garage that you allow your dog to explore, take care to store Antifreeze, batteries, deicers, cleansing products, and other chemicals securely out of reach. Even a small amount can make your dog deathly ill. Call your vet right away if you think your pet has consumed anything that might be poisonous.
How to safeguard pet dog paws from the winter season and snow? Winter can be a bumpy ride for your canine’s, and specifically direct exposure to cold air, rain, and snow can cause chapped paws and itchy skin. But these aren’t the only pains pets can suffer from in winter. Here are additional winter season risks for your pets.
Steps to Protecting your Pets
Regular grooming
Make sure your pet’s paws are all set for the winter season.Many pets have excess hair between their paw pads. Make sure it is trimmed to avoid collecting salt or other chemicals. If your pet’s paw hair is folded over their paw pads it will require grooming.
Chemicals, especially salt, are an irritant for the skin and will cause discomfort. Also, your pet will be licking the hazardous chemicals to try and remove the irritant themselves; remember oil from roads will also be on your pets’ feet and oil is a well-known carcinogen.
Cut long-haired canines to decrease the clinging of ice balls, salt crystals, and ice-melting chemicals that can dry on the skin — especially on the feet. If your canine has really hairy feet, trim them throughout the winter.
Routine cleansing
When you’re strolling in the city, avoiding all the rock salt is almost difficult. When you are back house, keep a bowl of warm water just inside your door so that you can clean your pet dog’s paws (and your own boots).
Shorter Pet Walks
Dogs left in the cold for extended periods of time are also at risk for frostbite on paws and hypothermia. It is not encouraged that pets invest hours in the cold. During the frigid months, regular short walks are much better for your pets’ than a single long walk. Last but not least, get knowledgeable about the possible risks of strolling your pet in the dark. Reflective vests may be important in areas that lighting is sparse.
Bring a towel on your walks
Bring towel to clean off salt crystals and other chemicals. Understand fractures in paw pads or redness in between the toes are telltale signs of problems and more importantly increasingly future problems.
Dog boots
Just as using boots in the winter season secures your feet, pet booties will avoid injury to your pet dog’s paws. Pet boots secure your pet’s paws from salt, ice balls, and sharp items that may be hidden under the snow. Your pup may not like the boots in the beginning but, with a little time and persistence, you can train your canine to love wearing his booties!
Fear the cold
It’s good to bear in mind that if the weather’s too cold for you, it’s most likely too cold for your pet dog too. When it’s truly cold, our furry buddies should stay inside your home as much as possible throughout the winter season months and never be left alone in automobiles. You don’t know how cold is too cold for your four-legged friend and the thought of risking or forgetting them is too great.
Feet and Paws are Sensitive!
Throughout the wintertime, try to look after your pet’s feet like you do your own. When your feet get cold, aching, and blistered, the discomfort can make you unpleasant. Your canine feels the same way.
Viruses and Colds
Most virus’ or common colds occur in the winter months because of a lack of humidity in the air. Invisible water droplets will stick to viruses in the air and drop harmlessly to the ground. Investing in a humidifier would be helpful. Humidifiers help keep your skin moist and viruses on the ground where they can be rendered neutral after time and less likely floating in the air waiting for you to inhale (this is a big reason that laying on the floor is not an optimal idea.)Treat your Best Friends Feet this Winter Season.
How to Protect and Care for your Pets’ feet
This homemade winter-season care treatment is a quick recipe to protect your canine’s paws? Your puppy or adult pooch will enjoy this easy-to-make pet paw care cream. Here’s what you require to make 150 grams of paw care balsam:
- 80ml Olive Oil
- 30g Shea Butter
- 15g beeswax
- 20g pine resin (gathered by hand or purchased online)
- .3 tsp marigold
- 1 small sealable glass jar to keep the cream.
Preparation: Mix all ingredients together in the glass and put them in a heated water bowl at 50 degrees for around 30 minutes. When you notice that the cream gets a medium consistency (not too thick and not too liquid), take it out, put it in another glass and leave it to cool off.All these ingredients are extremely effective when utilized together: a few of them have anti-inflammatory properties, while others have a calming impact on the skin. Apply as needed.
In Conclusion:
At the end of the day letting your dog or pet out in the backyard might be your best bet as long as you don’t ice your back backyard door area. Most pets are going to miss their warm comfy home just as you will.