Should You Clean Your Dog’s Paws After Every Walk? Here’s What Vets Say
Every walk you take will be an adventure for your dog. But when they trot back inside, their paws carry more than just mud. They include dirt, bacteria, allergens and even toxic chemicals.
So, should you clean your dog’s paws after every walk? Yes, you should. Read on and let’s explore why it matters more than you realize.
What Your Dog’s Paws Pick Up Outside
The paw pads of your dog touch every surface on a walk. It includes concrete sidewalks, grass, dirt trails and even parking lots. They all leave something behind. According to veterinarians, common things that stick in dog paws include bacteria, fungi, pesticides, de-icing chemicals and seasonal allergens.
The real concern is what happens next. Dogs naturally lick their paws after a walk. When they do, they ingest whatever is stuck there. It can trigger allergic reactions and stomach issues. However, things can get worse if toxic chemicals are involved.
How Often Should You Clean Dog Paws?
The right frequency will depend on the routine of your dog and the environment. Here’s a simple guide that you can follow:
- After every walk – At minimum, you should be cleaning the paws of your dog after every walk. You can simply use warm water and mild dog shampoo for it.
- After middy or wet walks – You should do a full rinse with warmwater after walking your dog on a rainy day.
- After winter walks – This is where you need to be mindful about rinsing road salt and de-icers. Otherwise, it can crack and burn paw pads.
- After hiking or trail walks – You need to check between the toes for debris, ticks and small cuts before cleaning.
- Light neighborhood walks – A quick wipe is usually enough after short neighborhood walks.
How to Clean Your Dog Paws in the Right Way?
You just need to develop the right routine to clean the paws of your dog. If you stick to that routine, the process will take less than two minutes. Here’s what you should do:
- As the first thing, you should check between the toes for pebbles, burrs or debris.
- You need to wipe each paw with a damp cloth or dog-safe paw wipe. The Woofpanion Wet Mittens can help you with it. These paw wipes are safe, reliable and gentle on your dog's fur and do an excellent job with cleaning the paws of your pet. They are also safe on human skin.
- If the paws are dirtier, you need to soak them briefly in a bowl of warm water and use a drop of dog shampoo.
- Make sure to dry the paws thoroughly between the toes. That’s because moisture trapped there can result in fungal infections.
- Apply a dog-safe paw balm if the pads look cracked or dry.
Final Words
Now you know how to clean the paws of your dog properly. However, you should also keep an eye on signals that indicate your current cleaning routine is not enough. For example, if your dog is excessively licking or chewing the paws, or if you are getting a stronger smell, you need to clean them. Many dogs will resist paw cleaning. This is why you should start slow and make it positive.
Keep your supplies right by the door and you can make the routine easy to follow every single time.
