For those that live in places that get cold and icy...

[Valerie]

What do you do for your baby's feet?  We have been getting alot of sleet/ freezing rain the past couple of days.  The sidewalk and ground have got to be cold on Cookie's feet!
Do you use shoes or something?  Her paws feel rough too- is their some type of lotion I can put on them?  I know how dry my hands have been- I'd hate to think of her feet hurting from the cold!

Also, the one thing that keeps freezing are the back steps to the back yard- Cookie wasn;t listening to me tell her to wait and she ran down them and slip from the second step to the ground!  :crazyeyes: I about had a heart attack- I would die if she hurt her back again.  She now waits a little before going down the steps.  I have been picking her up and putting her on the ground- which is scary because I would hate to slip and fall with her in my arms!!

Anyway, today we are going to pick up stuff to spinkle on the steps, but in the meantime, I need ideas on how to protect her little feet.

[doxielady5569128]

I bought some little booties for Porky's feet when it snows and is icy.  They don't really help keep them from slipping, but they protect their paws pretty well.  There is also some paw pads that you can get from JB Wholesale They stick onto the pad of the dog's foot to protect it from slipping and the cold.   Porky tends to like them better than the booties, because they don't feel as funny to him.  This year Porky has been wearing his boots a little better.  They should have some boots or paw pads at Petco or Petsmart too, I would think.  :thinik: 

Good Luck.  Definately make sure you buy the pet safe ice salt at the store.  Not ust the regular kind, it tends to really hurt dog paws when it gets caught in their paws.   Make sure you read the label to see that it is pet safe before using it.  Another good idea is to consider getting an awning to go above the back porch.  That will usually keep it dry and keep the ice off a little more than having nothing.  Hope this helps!!

[PattyInAK]

I don't do anything for their feet.  Willy and Alex are paper trained, which works great for winter.  In our area you never know if there is a moose nearby.  We do go outside a few times on the weekends, just for a breath of fresh air, the guys can't stay out too long before they get cold.  This morning, however, its 38F.  All the snow we got a few weeks ago is gone, we have bare ground.

[Marcia from MI]

I bought something called an ice mat from one of those catalogs like Harriet Carter.  Its made of a woven material like grass backed with a non slip material.  I put it on the porch and our cement ramp. And it goes from the door sill right down to the grass.  As for the walk my vet recommended that I use kosher salt as it melts along with the ice and doesn't hurt the furkids' paws.

[Leslie]

I bought something called an ice mat from one of those catalogs like Harriet Carter.  Its made of a woven material like grass backed with a non slip material.  I put it on the porch and our cement ramp. And it goes from the door sill right down to the grass.  As for the walk my vet recommended that I use kosher salt as it melts along with the ice and doesn't hurt the furkids' paws.

Kosher salt?? great idea!!!!!!!!!!  One winter Loki's face swelled up due to licking the street salt off her paws.  ($45.00 office visit  and a 50 cent benedryl pill...)

[Dee Dee and Hallie]

That ice mat sounds great. Personally I am a FREAK about anything that might hurt backs...so I don't do boots or anything on their feet because I feel they put the gait off and make it easier to slip both bad for backs. I also don't allow steps of any kind, even when it's not slippery, again not good for backs (and furniture of course it totally out of the question). Is it possible to have a ramp put in on the back steps? When it's cold and icy out I do carry Hallie down the ramp but it can be slick and like you I am always so afraid I am going to fall with her! We only have to get to the bottom of the ramp, then she has her covered potty house she can go inside and use, then I carry her back in. I don't let her out when it's slippery, on her own, I will drive her to a covered mall or somewhere we can walk where the ground isn't slippery. Easier for us than some though as we don't typically get extended times of slippery ground here.

Yikes Les! I have never used salt so that would never have occurred to me...good info to know!

[PattyInAK]

They actually make a salt that is paw-friendly.
http://www.safepaw.com/

[doxielady5569128]

I never thought about the boots poetentially harming their little backs. Good Point.  I think I'll just use the paw pads and safe paw salt from now on.   Porky isn't usually out in the cold too long so its not a huge issue for us.   

[Valerie]

I love the Kosher Salt idea!  :thumb:

We did end up buying environmentally friendly "salt" from the garden center when we bought our Christmas tree this morning.
We at least need it for the front porch.  I may check into using Kosher salt or the pet safe stuff for the back porch.

Dee Dee- we are planning to get new steps built this spring that are wide and with a short riser and a ramp to the side.  Its just expensive to do something like right after moving in (we've already had plumping issues and electrical issues that take precedence :verdict: ).   

I do let Cookie run up and down small steps.  (more up , than down, as up isn't as hard on their backs)  She loves it so much, and her back has improved so much, and she gets so mad if we try to help her, that I like to give her that fun of running into the yard.  Although, not now, not with the ice.   Besides its hard to stop her from running up the stairs into the house when she is done- she is cold and wet and ready to get in her warm bed!

[Dee Dee and Hallie]

I think I am going to get some of that safe paw too,  Porkys Mom, I see they sell it as PetCo. Thanks for telling us about that Patty. That ice mat sounds great too Marcia how does it work once new snow falls on it, melts and then forms new ice? Does it stick to the mat, would you still have to use salt or something to melt it off the mat? The surface on my ramp is composit roofing material so it's got a lot of texture and grip already, I am not familiar with the ice mat and wondering if there would be added benefit by putting that on top of what is there?

I know what you mean about the cost of moving in Valerie, things you'd never think of seem to hit you right and left. You guys sure got a beautiful house though, it will be fun to fix it up like you want it. Have you started putting your tree up yet?

LOL I can picture Cookie running in...Hallie too will come FLYING in from the back yard at warp speed, then fly through the air and hit the ramp about half way up and continue into the house. Where you go down the ramp it comes out onto a small cement area, then there is a cyclone fence and gate to go through before you get to the larger back yard with grass. So I now will shut that gate once she is in the yard so she has to stop there and let me pick her up so she doesn't go flying into the house so fast.  I don't even let her jump off a curb by herself I'm sure she would roll her eyes at me if she could she could easily jump on anything she wants but any kind of jumping just scares me.

[Marcia from MI]

Dee Dee even though I live where we get a lot of snow during the winter I hate it.  As soon as we get even a dusting I go out and clean off the walk, drive, porch, etc.  So if snow falls on the ice carpet I clean it off immediatly and if it falls during the night and we get ice I use the kosher salt to melt it and it clears up very quick.   And the weave is such that even I don't slip on it.

[Dee Dee and Hallie]

Thanks Marcia, I will go find an ice mat to see if it looks like it would grip better than what I have. The ramp is never slippery when it's wet, etc because it has really good traction already but different story in the ice. I don't usually get out there before it's covered in snow and ice when it does snow (I don't like to even open the door when it's that cold LOL) but if the ice mat will keep the ice down, I'll definitely get one. I'll have to see if they might have one at a local store where I can see and hold one. Thanks!!

[Frankys_mom]

There are balms or creams you can use on their paw pads.  One that I can think of is called Pawstik Paw Protector Balm by Muttluks, but there are others.  Back in his prime Franky would chase after us and our nieces & nephews when we went snow tubing and his paws got really sore from the ice.  We got something from the vet, but you can get paw conditioners at any good pet supply store.
I want to try the kosher salt, sounds great!
Dawn

[Dee Dee and Hallie]

I would have loved to see videos of Franky chasing the snow tubes!  What a goof!