Category: Animal House
With wenter on its way. I am starting to look in to foot care things. My dog uses her booties just fine but what about other things?
what is it you guys use for your dogs?
How does things like the waxes hold up aginst stuff like bryne, the liquid salt stuff? I hear bryne burns their feet really bad.
I do not use boots on my dogs. they all hate them anyhow and, often times stuff can get inside the boot and so, the foot ends up sitting in the crap anyhow. I do wipe off the feet with a moist towel and then dry them off when I get home or to work. I also wipe off the tummy where the salt and muck gets kicked up. sometimes I need to clean off the belly strap of the harness also.
oh wow I would never put boots or shoes on an animal as they could rip them to shreds and they have pads on there feet so that should protect them but hey each to there own, smiles.
I've known people up here who train their working dogs to wear footwear if they are going to be exposed to ice and snow a lot. Yes they have pads, but your best pair of boots eventually wears out.
I know some who have trained their to wear SAR gear like a flotation device. I don't know how it's done, but I don't see any reason why it couldn't be taught to wear gear.
Also even outside of ice and snow, blacktop can be extremely hot. Ever make a run for it across the parking lot from the swimming pool in bare feet as a kid? You'd think again about having the animal standing there. I don't have an animal, but know some who do. Even though they're not guides, wolvenkind is wolvenkind, so, seems logical to me.
I do understand but some may think it is a weird thing to do or even a bit cruel to the animal though i'm not saying your implying that you are or would.
I have officially given up on boots for Jenny... Another board post from SilverLightning suggested a product called Musher's Secret... I bought a medium-sized container online so we can try it out... boots are a lost cause for my girl!
Kate
to one of the posters on here..the boots are special ones made for dog's feet. I do worry about the blacktop here in Florida cause it can get very very hot! How did the the stuff you bought Kate work out?
Not too bad. I am still trying to figure out how much to put on... and I know of others who have used it to protect doggie's paws from hot pavement etc.; might be a solution for you. Half my battle is keeping her from licking my hands as I try and put it on her paws. LOL
Another question for those of you with guide dogs... do you ever trim their toenails? Jenn's aren't that long or anything, but I wonder if it might not be a bad idea?
Kate
I have and use on my dog a dremel drill. It works out great.
I got mine off of amazon for just $25. It comes with about 5 or 6 extra sanding bands and is cordless.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003TU0XG4/ref=wms_ohs_product_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It works great and you might have to take some time with getting your dog use to it but I love it.
You can also get filers that you would have to do yourself and this works too but takes a lot more time. My dog and room mates dog gets excited when I pull out the drimel, it means treat time...
I've taken Ditra to the vet for nail-trimming. Am nervous about finding the clippers or whatever to do it myself, as I don't want to cut into the quick. i've heard of nail-clippers with a bar to stop you from cutting too far down the nail, or maybe it just prevents you from dcutting into the quick, I don't know, but if I can find something like that, I'd be willing to try clipping myself. It'll save me the money.
good idea, smiles.
I do not use clunky boots on my golden, but little footies made by a company called Pawz. They are pretty much latex socks that come in different sizes according to the size of the dog's paws. These latex footies are better because they don't deprive dogs of sensation through there paws, and they are also form-fitting, so they are pretty hard to lose. I've had my for over a year and just lost one for the first time yesterday. These come in a pack of twelve, so no big deal if one is lost.
These footies are essential in winter to protect my dog's feet from salt and brine. And I like these better because I do not have to pull them up over the dew claws, which were both rubbed raw and tore open last winter by the clunky boots that the school gave me.
I don't think there effective in protection from heat, so the musher's secret might be a way to go, although West Michigan doesn't usually get so hot that it's a concern.
I too have a Drimmel like Nicky, and use it to file down my golden's claws. His grow quickly, so I must do it once a week.
I also trim the hair on his paws once a month since it grows very long around and in between his toes.
awe that is nice of you but does he like it being done to him or her?
Very interesting posts!