Frostbit Paws?

[Scott M]

Hunted Thanksgiving morning (4 hours), all day Friday, and then come Saturday morning after about an hour, noticed blood in the pawprints in the snow. My dog's paws were bleeding, not in the pads but along the interface of the pads and skin. I assumed it was frostbite, and kenneled the dog for the day. She's fine now, licking her paws occasionally but things are looking better. I'm guessing frostbite, anyone else have any ideas? I was given some booties from a friend but didn't think I'd ever need them, maybe I should use them if I hunt her hard like that again.

[vman11]

Could it be just sharp snow? Unless it was fluffy, the crusty snow is tough on feet. It's pretty normal for my lab to have beat up feet after a day in the snow.

How'd did it go for you? Birds are skittish in ND, huntable, but very skittish. How did your second week for waterfowl go? Send me a fb message if you have a chance.

[Jack Peterson]

I doubt it was frostbite. My dogs stay outside in the cold weather all winter and have never had bloody paws.

Could be anything from sharp grass to "crusty snow." I can see sharp ice or objects doing this to a dogs paw, but not the cold weather.

[birdswacker]

Could be snow ice build up between the paws I put vaseline between them so no build up and keeps the paws softer.

[JayinMN]

Unlikely it was frost bite, sounds like the ice cut her feet up.

[brittman]

Ice and ice crusted snow will cut up the sides of the pads. Abrasions will also form on the backside of the leg just above the paw (under the elbow).

Ruffed grouse hunting in the snow can be tough on dogs. Even when the snow is fluffy, they cannot see all the fallen logs under the snow. I have had them finish the day with cuts, broken toenails, and sprains.

Ice balls forming on the hair inbetween the pads can be another issue. Some dogs are effected more than others with this one.

[gspman]

It's not frostbite. It's just the crusty snow abrading the paws until they bleed.

[Scott M]

Thanks for the input. Yes, spent the full day in SW MN where the nasty Wednesday ice storm covered the snow with a hard crust. It's likely it happened there and made her cut up for the next day.