Just like us, your dog’s skin can be sensitive to the elements, especially during the winter. The continuous changes from cold and wet outside to warm and dry inside could leave your four-legged friend with itchy skin, cracked paws and matted fur. But here at Finchley Dog Walker, we’ve got some super skincare tips for keeping your dog’s skin in great condition, whatever the weather.
Drying off
Even if it isn’t particularly wet outside, your dog’s paws and fur can still get damp from dew and mud, so make sure you have a towel to hand at the end of every walk to give your dog a good drying off. A rub down of their fur will help to remove any moisture trapped in the fur, and getting in between their toes should remove moisture and dirt that can cause drying out, irritation, infections and cracked skin.
Bathing your Dog
It’s fine to bathe your dog in winter – it helps with odours and removes stubborn mud and dirt from their fur, but try to keep the amount of baths to a minimum and use sensitive shampoos. Too many baths can remove the natural oils from their skin and fur and cause drying out. Also, always make sure your dog is completely dry before letting them outside again.
Brushing and Trimming Fur
For those owners with longer-haired breeds, you may want to consider a winter trim to help keep road salt, de-icing chemicals, ice, snow and mud from building up in their coats, but also daily brushing for all hair lengths is essential. Regular brushing will help to remove knots and tangles in the fur, improve skin circulation and condition, and make it easier to cope with coat shedding.
Paw Pampering
As you’d imagine, your dog’s paws bear the brunt of the elements. Cold surfaces, ice, snow, road salts and chemicals can cause your dog’s paws to become cracked or irritated. If they’re licking their paws, clean de-icing chemicals can be very harmful when ingested. Help minimise the effects on your dog’s paws with a paw wash and dry after every walk. In addition, applying a moisturising balm to their pads and toes will help prevent and heal chapped or dry pads.
Stay Hydrated
Ensuring your dog is well hydrated can make all the difference to its skin and coat condition. Many of their usual water sources on walks may be dried up or frozen in winter, so always make sure there is a good supply of water in your home.
Looking after your pooch in winter will ensure when spring comes, and the weather turns nicer, you’ll be able to spend a great amount of time outdoors with no discomfort to your faithful friend.
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