Kluane, a standard poodle, enjoys playtime in the snow in Alaska. Kluane keeps her paws protected with an Alaska made salve called Pampered Paws
Cold Days and Cracked Paws; the conundrum for dogs during winter
Jupiter, the Catahoula dog, plays in the sub-zero winter temperatures in Alaska with Pali and Grace, her standard poodle pack mates.
January in Alaska.
The days bring a predictability to my routine; limited daylight and very cold temperatures. This month the wood stove hasn’t had a moment’s rest. The path from the wood shed to the front door is worn down by the boots from our many trips back and forth to bring in more fuel for the stove. The snow crunches underfoot, like tiny bits of glass shattering with each step. And we don’t dare breath the cold air in through our mouths for fear of starting a coughing fit from the frigid air hitting our throats.
This month has maintained sub-zero temperatures in the double digits, every single day. To my mind, this is the longest cold spell I can recall as an adult. -20º fahrenheit has begun to feel familiar… almost comfortable in its own way. I’ve stopped waiting for the days to get warmer. Instead I bundle myself up in extra layers, head outside and go about my business, paying no mind to the chill.
Sub-zero temperatures in the winter. 90º+ temperatures in the summer.
Perhaps this is the new normal for climate in Alaska.
My dogs still love to play in this winter weather.
Winter is a joyful season for my poodles. The snow adds a new dynamic to their world of outdoor play. Every time it snows, my dogs wake up to a blanket covering familiar scents and sights. To them, each new snowfall is a new land to explore. And they take full advantage.
Even in the sub-zero temperatures, my dogs still want to go outside. They almost crave the cold. Each of them race around the trails, leaping into snow banks or burying their heads in the deep snow. They run and turn and slide along the trails, truly embracing life and squeezing every piece of greatness out of the day.
I love to watch my dogs soak up the winter season. And I know, as long as their bodies will allow, they will stay outside and play. But as soon as their paw pads begin to feel the effects of the cold, dry winter weather, life for my dogs goes from joy to misery.
Cracked paws from extreme winter weather is a nuisance to many dog owners.
The dryness of the pads leads to chronic licking from our dogs. And the chronic licking leads to further dryness and then to cracking on the paw pads. Before too long, we are dealing with dogs who can’t enjoy a simple walk or, even worse, end up with bloody tracks when they do run around on their injured paws.
It is with this issue in mind, that I began working on a solution for my own dogs. And thus, Pampered Paws was born!
Pampered Paws is a salve made from Alaska herbs specifically for dog paws. The salve protects paws from cracking and drying out while healing wounds or damaged paw pads.
This simple salve is made from the herbs I gather in Alaska. Devil’s club and marigolds provide the base for this healing salve.
The broad medicinal properties of these herbs work in soothing sore feet. The antibacterial properties aid in prevention of infection. And the oils create a natural barrier between the paw pads and the cold, frozen ground beneath the dogs’ feet.
I put Pampered Paws salve on each of my dogs’ feet before they go outside. And even in these extreme sub-zero temperatures, the salve protects their paws from drying out and cracking.
You can grab your own Pampered Paws salve and save your dogs’ paws as they continue to adventure in the cold, dry winter climate.