How to Handle Dog Injuries in the Cold
The winter brings cold weather across North America and drives many of us indoors. Our furry buddies still need their exercise and for that many of us brave the elements to keep them active. For some of us, our dogs even love the winter and the bounding joy that prancing through the snow brings. I have some experience with a particular puppy who thought it was great fun to tear through the freshly fallen snow!
But what happens when Fido gets hurt? In the summer, usually we see hotspots, cuts, knicks, and sometimes bites from the dog park. Our friends in warmer states might even see sunburns on paws from hot pavement!
However, in the winter, it can be a whole different ballgame (fetch pun intended). In this post we’ll break down some of the wounds you’ll see in the colder climates and what to do about them.
Irritated Paws
Right off the bat, this one seems like something that we might not think about in the winter, but it can be caused when your pooch gets rock salt or Ice Melt stuck in their paws. Ice control salts are made of potassium chloride and sodium chloride mixes, making them great at melting ice and preventing slippery surfaces out on the driveway. However, these mixes often include compounds that promote their activity and that can be quite irritating to the skin once dissolved. Many of our dogs have a strong preference against booties, so their paws are often naked and exposed to these salts. So they can pick up quite a bit of irritation in the winter.
You might notice your dog licking and chewing their paws after coming in on a cold day; this could be a sign of irritation. Fortunately, the fix is quite easy. This type of irritation is best solved by a warm water wash of the paws. Use some gentle soap if they look a bit extra irritated. Keep this up for a few days and be sure to broom salt off outdoor surfaces frequented by your dog after the ice situation has improved. You should see them back to normal quickly!
Sprains
Just like us, our furry friends are at significant risk of sprains when running on ice in the winter. Add to it that their muscles are just like ours and tend to be a little stiff in the cold, and you have a great recipe for a sprain.
Ice tends to form on flat smooth surfaces that allow snow melt or rainwater to pool, like driveways. Unfortunately, to prevent it or get rid of it, you’ll have to use some paw irritating ice melt, but let’s address what happens when Fido takes a spill when running over it. Usually the sprains you’ll see are in the ankle or leg. For most dogs, these won’t be too serious, and rest is all they need.
For more serious sprains, you need to schedule a veterinarian appointment and have them checked out for a fracture as well. Fractures in dogs can cause arthritis and other pains as they get older, so it’s best to prevent future issues by getting them checked out. If your dog seems a little swollen, ice their joint while they’re inside just like you would for yourself.
Rashes
The HoneyCure team fields a lot of questions on rashes, enough that we could make a whole post about it! Unfortunately rashes can occur from a huge variety of causes, and how each is treated can be very different. In the winter, you’re most likely to see either dry skin rashes in the very cold climates, or moisture related rashes in the regions that see more precipitation in winter.
For dry skin rashes, you’ll likely see a bit of fur loss like they would with a hotspot, and possibly some dandruff. They might lick and bit at the irritated skin, causing a furless dry patch that might be very red. The best way to help them is to apply a moisturizing ointment that soothes the skin, like HoneyCure, and protect it from further itching and licking. After you notice improvement, an occasional bath with a dry fur shampoo can help soothe them, but avoid over bathing as you can promote dry skin.
For moisture related rashes, you’ll see more of a hotspot type of rash with more of an moist looking red spot develop with some bare skin. These rashes need to be cleaned and allowed to dry, and will benefit from a soothing ointment or cream like HoneyCure that will promote healthy skin.
For rashes that are not seasonal in occurrence or seem to have a different source be sure to consult a vet.
There you have it, a handful of winter related injuries and how to deal with them. Some of our dogs may still suffer cuts, abrasions, and more in the winter too. But treatment of these will be similar to what you would do year round.
While winter often brings with it cold or wet weather, we need to keep our furry buddies active, so be sure to brave the elements and get some exercise! Once you look beyond the sometimes not so fun weather, we’re sure you’ll make some great memories with your pooch!