Snowballs and furry paws

[BBP]

Just for the future (as all my snow has turned to slush this afternoon) does anyone have any good recommendations for things to use to reduce snow balls building up on feathers and between paw pads? He has super feathery legs and fuzzy toes. I used a paw balm that I had for irritated paws, and also tried spray frying oil, both of which did an ok job but he’s now a bit greasy. I’ve also heard mane and tail conditioner can work well. I could get some mushers wax in but we get snow so infrequently it’s good to know of things that might be in the house already.
He had an absolute blast, I think it’s the first proper snow we have had since we did toilet training during the beast from the east 3 years ago. He’s in his element.

 

[EarsofaHorse]

I can't help but that's a lovely photo ?

 

[Chiffy]

Could you not just wash his paws in warm water when you get back?

 

[BBP]

Could you not just wash his paws in warm water when you get back?

Getting home isn’t a problem, it’s more them building up whilst out as they can be a bit irritating especially between the toes (he had huge ones after 10mins in the garden so I decided I wanted something to reduce them for a 2hr walk). My solutions did a pretty good job, so it was just curiosity about what others might have tried, but maybe it’s not a common problem!

 

[Errin Paddywack]

One of mine has fluffy paws. I trim them down as much as I can which seems to help.

 

[Chiffy]

Ah! I see BBP. I have three large dogs with fairly long coats, only one gets hairy paws and I regularly trim them so never an issue.

 

[julesjoy]

I was going to suggest pig oil, if you already have some for the pony, but that will be very greasy!

 

[deb_l222]

I've got springers, so lots of furry feet. Well, they would be if they had a chance to grow

The only way to stop wet snow balling up is to clip the hair off then there's nothing for it to stick to. Just make sure there's no hair under the pads of feet and in between toes - this also helps with mud. I don't clip Willow's legs or chest so it still balls up there but I just periodically use my fingers to melt the snow balls off while we're on a walk.

 

[millikins]

My poodle hated the snow balls his curly coat collected, I found spraying his legs with "7 day mud away" or mane and tail detangler if I had no 7 DMA worked well.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

My Finnish Lapphunds have quite fluffy paws, usually their pads are barely visible. If we do get snow, it often doesn't take long before it rains away, but when we've had snow that stayed for awhile, it never used to lead to my bitches getting snowballs building up under their paws.

However, as they get older, the quality in their paw fur can change, and Jonna started getting snowballs a few years ago. Blomma started getting them last year, but Beata still haven't gotten any when we've had snow this Winter.

If I want an effect that definitely lasts for more than 1 walk, and something they won't lick off, I use a Swedish paw protection cream which contains pine tree oil, and less than a handful of other things. If I'm in a hurry, and want to put on something a bit quickly just before going out for a walk, I simply rub in some Rapeseed oil from the kitchen on the paws, and take them straight out for a walk, so they don't have time to lick it off.
If it's clear the snow won't soon go away, I put on the paw protection cream, and I might also bring out the paw fur scissor, and do a little trimming. But it feels a bit weird to see so much of their pads, after all these years.

 

[Moobli]

It would be good if there was a method that worked well. The collies aren't too bad but our beardie x gets quite badly snowballed up, and we have had snow for a few weeks now (and it is snowing again as I speak). Thankfully he is quite happy to be blasted before going back in his kennel, so we dry him off before he goes to bed but it would be really handy to stop him balling up in the first place.