Winter paw care at 6,225 feet

What winter does to a paw

Cold air can dry out paw pads. Ice can collect between toes, and road salt can irritate feet or be swallowed during grooming. On snow, the Forest Service notes that ice balls form in the fur between the pads and that deep snow can hide things that cut.

The winter kit

The Forest Service packing list for a dog outing is a six-foot leash, a collar with ID, waste bags, drinking water and snacks. In winter, add a paw protectant or booties and a towel. The ASPCA suggests bringing the towel on long walks to wipe irritated paws as you go.

Before the walk

The ASPCA suggests massaging petroleum jelly or a vet-approved paw protectant into the pads before walks to shield them from salt and de-icing chemicals. Booties can help keep salt off paws and out from between the toes. Short-haired dogs may need a coat, ideally one with a high collar that covers from the base of the tail to the belly.

Trim, never shave

Avoid shaving long-haired dogs in winter; the ASPCA says never to shave a dog down to the skin, because the longer coat is the insulation. Trim instead, enough that ice balls, salt crystals and de-icing chemicals have less to cling to, and keep the hair between the toes short too.

After the walk

Wash and dry your dog’s feet and belly after walks. Check for cracked pads, redness between toes, and trapped ice. Towel the coat dry as soon as you come inside, and give the dog a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from drafts.

Baths can wait

Bathe less in the cold months. The ASPCA notes that frequent washing strips essential oils and invites dry, flaky skin; when a bath cannot wait, ask your vet about a moisturizing shampoo. The ASPCA also suggests keeping the house humidified.

Food and water

Dogs burn extra energy keeping warm. The ASPCA advises feeding somewhat more through the winter months and keeping plenty of water down, which guards against dehydration and dry skin at once.

Out on the snow

Keep your dog leashed and wearing ID. Snow can make it harder to follow familiar scents, and the ASPCA counts more dogs lost in winter than in any other season; its rule is never off leash on snow or ice, least of all in a snowstorm. Snow can also hide sharp objects, so watch the ground and plan a route you can safely get back from.

On the trail

The Forest Service’s watch list for a hiking dog is paw injuries, exhaustion, and altitude effects. It also warns of Giardia in Tahoe-area lakes and streams, so carry drinking water for the dog rather than letting it drink from the trail.

Open water and ice

Tahoe-area lakes and streams stay very cold in winter too, and the Forest Service warns that a dog in them can become incapacitated quickly. The ASPCA’s leash rule covers ice as well as snow, so keep the dog out of the shallows and off anything frozen.

The antifreeze rule

Antifreeze can kill dogs. Clean up spills and store it out of reach. Propylene glycol products are less toxic, but keep those away from pets too. Ice melt is a hazard of its own if swallowed, so use a pet-friendly one on your own steps. If a dog gets into any of it, call your vet or the ASPCA poison control line at 888-426-4435.

How cold is too cold

The ASPCA advises that if it feels too cold for you, it’s probably too cold for your pet, and its baseline is that pets live indoors in winter; a dog left outside can freeze, become disoriented, or get lost. Keep walks short in severe cold. Don’t leave your dog in a parked car; in winter it holds the cold.

Allow time to adjust to altitude

Tahoe sits at 6,225 feet, and many trailheads are higher: Eagle Falls is at about 7,100 feet, and Mt. Tallac tops out at 9,735. Give your dog time to adjust to the elevation before a long outing. The Forest Service flags conditioning for the activity as well as the altitude, so build up to the long days.

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