Even if you are walking or hiking with your dog less than you would during warmer weather, you still need to consider an extra step or two to make sure you best friend's paws are kept in tip top condition.

According to Dr. Louise Murray, ASPCA Director of Medicine, " During the winter, products used as de-icers on sidewalks and other areas can lead to trouble for our animal companions, potentially causing problems ranging from sore feet to internal toxicity. Pet parents should take precautions to minimize their furry friends' exposure to such agents ."
If you are going to give your pet the total spa treatment, first you will put a layer of balm, made for the bottom of paw pads, dry noses and elbows, like North Woods Animal Treats Soothing Paws , onto the bottom of each paw, with enough covering to keep the salt and chemicals off the sensitive pads.
If you are going into deep snow, you will want to put some balm in between the toes also, to keep the snow from balling up. Snowballs between toes is not a comfortable thing!
When you come home from your walk, take a warm damp cloth and wash your dog’s paws off, including in between the toes to remove any salt or chemicals that got beyond your initial application of Soothing Paws. Then apply a second coat to the bottom of the clean pads, rubbing it in, if you put too much on, so he won’t stick to the floor.

With so many balms on the market, how do you choose the right one?
First, make sure all the ingredients are something you can pronounce. It is likely you dog will lick some balm off their paws and into their system. You want to be sure there are no chemicals in the mixture, that all the ingredients are not harmful if ingested in small amounts. (No one should be buying paw balm thinking it is a treat, even if it is safe to eat). And, that the ingredient list has ingredients in it, that you would use on your own skin!