Saskatoon pet stores suggest winter gear for pups

After a few snowfalls most people have hauled out winter boots and jackets for themselves and their kids.

It’s also important to have proper winter gear for pets as the weather turns frosty.

Pet stores like Critters Pet Health store and The Bone and Biscuit Co. in Saskatoon recommend items like dog boots and coats.

Henry Szabo has worked at Critters since it first opened. He said he’s helped many pet owners find winter accessories for their furry friends.

“Like us, if you are going to be outside for long periods, you’re going to start getting cold, as well as them,” Szabo said.

He said finding the right boots is essential.

“If they are too big they start to spin and then they will come off,” Szabo. “If they are too tight the dogs will almost do like a ballerina type of a walk because their foot isn’t allowed to spread in the boot itself.”

Szabo said a dog’s claws should be at the end of the boot if it fits properly.

Szabo added that dogs may appear to walk funny when they first start wearing boots,  as they take a while to get used to walking without being able to feel the ground.

Lucille Johnson, co-owner of The Bone and Biscuit Co., said socks or salves are also options for protecting paws.

“Mushes secret, it’s just a salve that you would put on your dog’s feet when they are outside in the snow, also in ice and things like that it helps protect them,” Johnson said.

She said the salve also protects dogs’ paws from getting rough and cracked due to salt on the roads, as well as winter temperatures.

Johnson said water-absorbant doggie doormats or paw plungers can be useful for dogs that are coming in and out of the house.

“The paw plungers are like a cup in a way at the top there is a little bristles part you can put your dog’s paw in there and then when you pull it out it cleans the paw off,” Johnson said. “So, when they are coming in and they’re muddy it will clean off their paw.”

For pet owners who want to leave water outside there’s also heated water bowls, Johnson said.

Johnson added she’s even had pet owners looking for toques.

Either way, the message was clear, pets need to be protected from the winter elements just like people.