boots a bad fit, or he just needs to learn how to walk in them?

[Shamas mom]

Hi there. We were gifted a pair if your boots for our dog-pretty sure the size is right- we measured his feet before the order was made- but we find that after walking, our dog limps in the hind legs?

Could you possible give me a lead on some possible issues to investigate regarding the wear of the boot? It's his first pair, so I don't know if there's a friction point that could be bothering him, nails need a trim, I'm pulling the straps too tight on his ankles or he's just not used to the boots and the change in gait is causing him some joint pain, which will settle down once he learns to walk better? Right now he's either walking like a newborn foal, or an arthritic 15y/old(he's 7) when he wears the boots, and the limp is in his back legs. Interestingly, he trots just fine...but I can't keep up that pace for long

He's happy to wear them, they let him go to places I wouldn't let him before, and now the salt doesn't hurt his feet. he just seems to be sore in the back end after about 30min. specifically that back left leg that occasionally goes lame in cold, damp weather.

 

[snowbunny]

Hi there, which boots do you have? I’m assume this is a copy/paste of an email you sent to the company? I would guess that they have a sizing chart on their website, so l would start there to ensure they the correct size.
The next thing to do would be video to show what the actual behaviour is.

If it’s just salt that bothers him, Mushers Secret is a wax that you rub into the dog’s paws. It works really well to protect the pads against salt and cold. I use it with all of mine throughout the snowy months.

 

[Shamas mom]

https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5053-...MIgajJk6ym5gIVjYbACh1Fyg_cEAQYASABEgJx6fD_BwE

These ones. It's the salt right now, but when it gets colder, his paws turn into ice chinks from the slush, causing pain. He gets very sore paws in the winter and refuses to walk. at all some days. I have a wax product for him, that I used last year, when we couldn't find any boots his size. I'll try to catch some video later- I'll need someone else on the leash

I'll order the next size up for his back later if that's the issue....but I NEED to get the money for the root canal before buying more doggy gear. I already quit smoking, and all of my smoke money is going into the vet account

 

[MellowYellow]

It’s not easy having a dog in very cold climates, and I applaud you for taking so much care of shamas. I’m sorry you are faced with this financial issue as well - Though it may be very good for your health!

 

[snowbunny]

Those are the same boots I bought for Ginny, my three-legged dog. They don’t actually work well for her in the deep snow because they get pulled off. She has very long hound feet though, so s very different shape to most Labrador feet.

I introduced them front and back separately. This way, she got used to them more gradually than just putting them all on at once. She did walk strangely until she got the hang of them. How long has Shamas been wearing them?

I’d recommend getting some of the paw wax - you only need a small tub because a little goes a long way - and using that on two paws and the boots on the other two (do both front of both back). Willow has especially sensitive feet and has been known to try to stand on one leg when it’s salty, but she’s totally fine with just the wax. This should buy you some time to get Shamas accustomed to the boots.
Be sure to measure his feet to make sure they’re the right size (Ruffwear have the size chart on their website) and I find the under socks make a significant difference.

 

[snowbunny]

Here is Ginny with just her front one, after a few sessions:

First time with the back boots:

A couple goes later with the back boots:

I kept them on for only a few minutes each time so that she didn’t get over-faced or sore from walking unnaturally for too long. It didn’t take many sessions before she was walking normally.

 

[Oberon]

Carefully feel inside the boots. They can be quite roughly finished inside, unlike human shoes. If they seem to have rough edges the socks can help, as Snowbunny mentioned, but you might need to tape them above his ankle joints to stop them slipping down.

 

[Shamas mom]

Carefully feel inside the boots. They can be quite roughly finished inside, unlike human shoes. If they seem to have rough edges the socks can help, as Snowbunny mentioned, but you might need to tape them above his ankle joints to stop them slipping down.

They feel ok, but I may try baby socks, see if it helps? He's worn socks over torn nails enough times to be familiar with that get-up lol

@snowbunny, you have a point too--it seems to be at about the 1/2 hour mark that he shows discomfort, so if I limit his wear to the walk out, and remove them after we pass the salty part of the walk, this may help matters. The overall walk is 45 minutes round trip

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Have a look on YouTube for dogs walking in shoes (dog shoes, that is). I bet you'll see a lot walking just like Shamas!

I second @snowbunny 's suggestions. Use socks and introduce one or two at once - not all four. I used two back ones on Brogan because he dragged his hind toes sometimes (spondylosis). Once I tried all four at once and THAT was interesting. He did great with two and (initially) lost his darn mind with four. In fact he walked just like Ginny does in the second video, even though he'd been wearing the back boots for months: add in the front boots and he did that funny bunny hop!

That video of Ginny is precious - love that her shoes match her collar and of course BANDANA! She just radiates happiness.

 

[Shamas mom]

Shamas walks like Ginny, in the house--I think he doesn't trust his footing on the hardwood? He settles to either a horse-trot or the "I'm old and my hips are going" walk once outside and moving. He does have his tail high, and even wags it..so I expect it bothering me more than him. He gets plenty of positive attention, and I think he thinks the boots are a one of my weird games, like dressing him up in clothes at Petsmart. H Does like that I let him walk on the rocky places, where I'd avoided for fear he'd get a stone bruise or pick up glass....and he's plowing through underbrush I'd kept him out of, in case of rubbish cutting his paws