The expert spoke about the most effective ways to save a pet from reagents on the street

Every year, with the arrival of winter, dog owners are faced with the question of how to protect their pets’ paws from the harmful effects of the reagents that are sprinkled on the streets. MK consulted with veterinarians, ecologists and owners and selected the most effective methods.

We are already accustomed to the fact that immediately after the first snowfall, sidewalks along houses, as well as areas near garbage containers, are generously treated with de-icing reagents. But the shoes quickly deteriorate because of this, and the paws of our little friends also suffer.

“In fact, not only animals suffer, but also people, plants, the soil becomes salty, because the entire periodic table is included in them,” says ecologist Nikolai Borzenkov.

According to him, the most harmless are abrasive reagents, for example, sand, in Moscow these are most often marble chips, passers-by often mistake them for salt, but the salt immediately dissolves when it hits the snow, and the crumbs lie there until spring, then You can sweep it onto the lawn and it won’t cause any harm to anyone. The same cannot be said about chemical reagents. They can cause significant damage to car frames, shoes and animals. In addition, many chemical mixtures can cause allergies in people.

“Most often, utility workers use bischofite or halite – this is industrial salt. And in severe frosts, calcium chloride can be used; it melts ice even at -30 degrees,” says the ecologist.

It is this last reagent that causes the most severe burns on the paws of animals (it also ruins shoes). So what should you do to protect your pet’s paws?

“First of all, do not walk where the sidewalks have been treated with reagents, and if there is no such place near your home, then thoroughly wash your dog’s paws after each walk. Moreover, in order to remove all harmful substances from the paws, water alone is not enough; you need to use baby soap, or even better, zoo shampoo with chlorhexidine,” advises veterinarian Gulnara Abasheva.

If the dog, after walking through the reagent, begins to tuck its paws, urgently take it to clean snow so that it can be cleansed of the chemicals. By the way, at home you need to wash not only the paw pads, but also higher up, where harmful substances can settle. Animals prone to allergies should only walk in winter in special shoes, or they need to treat their paws with special wax.

“There are only three ways to protect against reagents: dog shoes, disposable shoe covers, or various cosmetics, such as wax, cream or ointment. The most effective are shoes, especially if they are well made. But not all dogs agree to wear it. Shoe covers can also reliably protect paws from the action of reagents, although they tear very quickly. Sometimes you can use up several pairs in one walk. I don’t trust cosmetics; it seems to me that this is pure marketing. I haven’t read any convincing research on this topic. In addition, it is almost impossible to wash wax off a dog’s paws, but it leaves greasy stains on the floor,” Labrador breeder Elina Larina shares her personal experience.

According to Gulnara Abasheva, wax also comes in different varieties; you need to choose one where the percentage of beeswax exceeds other ingredients, such as petroleum jelly, lanolin and other additives. It must be applied in a thick layer. The downside is that it absorbs all the dirt on the street and entrance, and is difficult to wash off. But if it’s frosty outside, the wax hardens, and then it can be removed like a cover.

Dog breeders advise that before applying wax to your pet’s paws, trim the hair between the toes. Some people dip their entire paw into a jar of product and swirl it around, while others prefer to gently smear the pads with their fingers. And almost everyone agrees that wax is good only in cold weather, when it hardens quickly; in warm weather it is of little use.

But if the dog is accustomed to wearing shoes, the problem of protecting its paws from reagents is practically solved. But even here you need to keep in mind that dog boots must be made of waterproof fabric, otherwise they will be of no use. You should also pay attention to the sole; it should be rubberized, grooved so that it does not slip, and dense enough so that it does not get wet. Many owners complain that their pet cannot take a step in such shoes. Dog handlers advise training your dog gradually, first by putting on boots for a couple of minutes at home, gradually increasing the time, and when the dog begins to confidently run around the room in shoes, it will be possible to go outside in them.