Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: Karsten on 17/01/2009 20:06:47

Title: Do wolves get snow stuck between their toes too?
Post by: Karsten on 17/01/2009 20:06:47
My dog gets snow stuck between his toes. My childhood's dog too. Any dog I know gets snow stuck between their toes and it builds up until it hurts. Do wolves/coyote/fox, etc. experience the same? If not, why not?

And the ultimate question: What do I do so it does not happen to my dog?
Title: Do wolves get snow stuck between their toes too?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 17/01/2009 20:57:57
To answer your 2nd question first - put socks over his paws.

As for the snow in the toes bit, I think wolves have more hairs there than other dogs and that may keep the snow at bay.
Title: Do wolves get snow stuck between their toes too?
Post by: Karsten on 18/01/2009 17:47:05
Socks don't stay on and/or wear out in no time.

If I cut the hair shorter between his toes it gets better. Who cuts the wolves' toe hair?

What do mushers put on the feet of their dogs? How about the Inuit? They surely don't put socks on their dogs, do they? Maybe little seal leather moccasins? Polar bear fat?
Title: Do wolves get snow stuck between their toes too?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 18/01/2009 19:55:02
Use socks with those little laces at the top that you can tie. They will stay up OK. Or, if you are so inclined, gird your doggie with suspenders.

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.doggiesox.com%2Fregthumb.jpg&hash=e3090c01c2200096080839ec0747892b)

N.B. I am not a perv like Sheepie. This is a genuine product available from http://www.doggiesox.com/ (http://www.doggiesox.com/)
Title: Do wolves get snow stuck between their toes too?
Post by: MonikaS on 18/01/2009 23:26:36
Quote from: DoctorBeaver on 18/01/2009 19:55:02
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.doggiesox.com%2Fregthumb.jpg&hash=e3090c01c2200096080839ec0747892b)

N.B. I am not a perv like Sheepie. This is a genuine product available from http://www.doggiesox.com/ (http://www.doggiesox.com/)

Ha! I don't believe you!
Title: Do wolves get snow stuck between their toes too?
Post by: Karsten on 19/01/2009 01:23:56
As shown at this site, I do have a poodle as well, but we have tried to not to embarrass him by trimming him to look like a poodle. His hair is either growing or shaved short all over. I fear that he may be "embarrassed" with socks like this. Maybe they come in brown with brown suspenders. That way they would blend in. I shall check or make some myself.

He was out for along walk today and it was reported that he had much fewer problems with snow stuck between the toes now that the fur between his toes is cut super-short. It just takes so long to do that and he is so ticklish there.

No, he does not laugh.
Title: Do wolves get snow stuck between their toes too?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 19/01/2009 09:57:14
They make them for poodles:-

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.doggiesox.com%2Fdsoximg.gif&hash=6a2fb53b10bd62e59f044564b9b99bf8)
Title: Do wolves get snow stuck between their toes too?
Post by: Karsten on 20/01/2009 01:02:17
I know. That is why I wrote: "As shown at this site..." I guess I did not declare that I saw the picture of the poodle.

I still want to know why wolves don't have that problem. They don't have to wear embarrassing socks!
Title: Do wolves get snow stuck between their toes too?
Post by: RD on 20/01/2009 01:35:12
A polar bear would know all about paws on snow, but they're too shy to answer ...

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/ajay/169660243/

polar bear paw ...
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http://www.squidoo.com/polarbearaware

Hair between toes ?
Title: Do wolves get snow stuck between their toes too?
Post by: Karsten on 23/01/2009 01:26:43
No kidding. Lots of hair. What the heck!

Now imagine the polar bear with those socks and suspenders. "Cute"!
Title: Do wolves get snow stuck between their toes too?
Post by: blakestyger on 23/01/2009 13:59:39
Dogs are artifacts - nothing about them would surprise me. [:o]
Title: Do wolves get snow stuck between their toes too?
Post by: Karsten on 02/03/2009 14:26:24
A friend send me a link to this site that features standard poodles involved in competitive dog sled racing. They have the hair around their paws shaved very short. That seems to be the solution.

http://home.gci.net/~poodlesleddog/