Ask Augie

Dear Augie,
My paws hurt in the cold. I don’t like to go outside when it’s icy. What can I do?
Sincerely,
Cold and Bitter
Dear Cold and Bitter,
There are a few things your parents can do to help. Ask them about doggie booties. You might not like them at first and they might make you walk funny until you get used to them. Eventually you’ll find that they make you feel better.
You can also ask your people to keep your paws from cracking and chapping by applying a moisturizing balm such as tiger balm or Mushers secret when you come inside. It helps to put the balm on before long walks too to protect your paws. The cold is very drying on our little feet, so keeping the moisture in will help them feel less sensitive.

Another thing to remind your humans is that some types of road salt can hurt your paws. This could be one reason you pick up your feet so much. If they use salt on their driveway, ask them if it’s made to be gentle on paws.
Sincerely,
Augie