Old Trainer: Why not to worry about frostbite on your pups’ paws when playing outside
Dear Old Trainer: We adopted Max and Lola, both terrier/spaniel mixes, when we lived in Dallas. We moved to Laramie last fall and they experienced snow for the first time. They spend all day outside playing and don’t seem to even notice the cold, but they are not used to snow and it seems like there is always snow or ice on the ground. Can they get frostbite on their feet from the ice?
Wanda, Laramie, Wyoming
Old Trainer: I doubt you have to worry about Max and Lola, but I understand your concern. It seems logical a canine paw would be as susceptible to cold as a human foot. There is just bare skin on the pads. Even dogs bred for winter, who have extra hair between the pads, have bare skin on the pads.
And yet dogs play in the snow for hours and suffer no damage. It’s common for dogs to suffer burns from hot pavement in the summer, but I’ve lived in cold climates for years and never heard of a dog suffering frostbite on the paws.
The reason is another of the many gifts dogs got in the genetic lottery. A dog’s arteries connect to a dense network of veins in the paw, constantly moving warm blood through them. The more Max and Lola romp and play, the warmer the blood and the more heat provided to warm the tissue in the paw.
Add in the large amount of cold-resistant tissue and fat located in the pads, and a dog’s paw is as effective as a snow boot. Other species who live in the cold have the same system. More evidence canines developed in cold climates.
A more likely problem to watch for is balls of ice that may develop on the hair between the pads. If you see a dog limping or chewing on a foot, check their paws. You will usually find multiple snowballs which collect on the hair and turn to ice. Break them with your fingers and brush them out of the paws.
The best way to ensure Max and Lola have no problems with the snow is to check on them on a regular basis when they are outside. If you see one shivering or acting cold, or if they come to the door, take them inside at once. Otherwise, let them have a good time and enjoy the show they put on for you.
Dear Old Trainer: We just adopted Murph, a one-year-old Shih Tzu mix. She’s a delight, but she eats her dinner lying down. She stands up while she waits for me to make it, then lies down and eats it. She’s my first dog, so is this a problem?
Carl, Fresno, Ca
Old Trainer: No, it’s natural. Every dog begins life eating that way. It has nothing to do with Murph’s intelligence or training, so it becomes a matter of what you prefer.
Joker, my Border Collie, does the same thing and I enjoy it. He has his own way of doing things and it’s kept me entertained his whole life. Why change something that makes me laugh and reminds me how special he is?
If it bothers you, just pick Murph up and set her on her feet when you serve the food, then pet her and brag on her if she remains standing.
The Old Trainer has been a trainer for three decades and has rescued, trained, loved, and placed more than 4,000 dogs. Send questions to: theoldtrainer@gmail.com
This story was originally published January 30, 2022 at 5:00 AM.