{"id":1862,"date":"2017-01-30T21:25:29","date_gmt":"2017-01-31T01:25:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ovrs.com\/blog\/?p=1862"},"modified":"2017-10-17T13:58:41","modified_gmt":"2017-10-17T17:58:41","slug":"cracked-paws","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ovrs.com\/blog\/cracked-paws\/","title":{"rendered":"Protect the Pads: Healing and Preventing Dry, Cracked Paws"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Michiganders are no strangers to winter, and neither are their pets. While you\u2019re busy lacing up your snow boots before you head outdoors, your pet waits, bare-pawed. Indeed, our pets rely on their bare paws to transport them everywhere they need to go, regardless of the weather.<\/p>\n

Winter weather can wreak havoc on paws, however. Dry, cracked paws and other injuries are common in the coldest months<\/a>. Learn how to take care of your pet\u2019s precious paws with these pro tips, offered by your friends at Oakland Veterinary Referral Services<\/a>.<\/p>\n

All About Those Pads<\/h3>\n

The pads on the bottoms of paws are certainly adorable, but they serve a much bigger purpose for our pets. Paw pads provide traction and serve as shock absorbers, protecting the bones, tendons, and ligaments of the legs from the impact of all that walking, running, and climbing.
\n<\/p>\n

Paw pads are made up of skin, bone, tendons, ligaments, and connective tissue, and the more your pet uses them, the more tolerant they become to heat, cold, and rough surfaces. As tough as the pads are, however, they are not invincible.<\/p>\n

Winter Proofing Paws<\/h3>\n

Keeping your pet\u2019s paws in tiptop shape means preventing injuries<\/a> to the pads before they occur.<\/p>\n