CockersOnline Forum
Cocker Specific Discussion => Health => Topic started by: lindseyp on January 18, 2013, 08:26:37 AM
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Seeing as we rarely need this information down south, just wondering peoples best tips are for preventing the build up of snow balls on cockers furry bits when out in snow?
I understand vaseline applied to legs/ feet is a good method so will probably give it a try today but wondered if anyone else had the best kept secret they would care to share ;)
Joking aside, this can be quite an uncomfortable problem for the dog when out on walks in the snow, as the build up can turn to hard ice, impacted around their feet etc & can cause the dog to become quite stressed because of it :016:
ta muchly for any tips
Lindsey x :-*
(sorry MODS - not sure if this should be here, in grooming or general discussions perhaps? ...please move as required ph34r )
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We found with George that a spray of velvet Coat, (coat conditioner) helped a lot to prevent the balling of snow around his feet and featherings.
Young William is about to get his very first experience of snow any moment now so we shall see.
Always the disclaimer of wrong sort of snow ;)
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Thanks Lindsey. We've had our first venture out this morn and it's pretty deep already in N Dorset.
Despite Vaseline she came back with huge lumps on her paws, legs, armpits. She loved the walk but ended up looking pretty uncomfortable.
I've just rinsed her legs in luke warm water to get them off gently because there was no way they were going to release with fingers.
I've got to go out again later so am putting the Hurtta with legs on her this time. It worked well last year.
Watching this one with interest for more tips.
Edited to add. she's now standing by the door begging to go out again >:( :005:
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oh poop ..so vaseline's not as good as suggested? :-\
go on, let her out meanie mum :lol2: get your camera out Nina - we don't get this opportunity very often do we :luv:
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Best thing I've found for our girls when they out shooting is that spray olive oil!! Don't laugh it really works. Some "bloke" was very dismissive a couple of years ago so I offered to spray one of his springers legs to prove a point and after a days beating in drifts that leg was wet but "clatterball" free! Don't use the garlic one though really difficult for them to walk while everyone else trying to lick off the nice smelling stuff :005:
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yep spray oil or olive oil is good - you need to 'sacrifice' a towel when you get home to get any remaining oil off.
It's only today when it will be really bad as it's so powdery - tomorrow we deal with ice :lol2:
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Yep just tried olive oil this morning on bottoms of her feet and it worked a treat.... should've thought it through and done the rest of her legs tho.... they were like little snow pylons! :005:
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I have just come in from our morning walk and have had to dunk Jinleys feet in a bucket of water before I could get her equafleece off!!
Does the Olive Oil wipe off easily enough, or am I going to end up with it on my sofa? On that note, is Olive Oil good for leather??
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I usually wipe any residue off straight after shooting with kitchen towel, then once home with normal towels. It comes off fairly well. Girls are all kennelled so getting it on my sofa not an issue but once they all snuggled up together I can see they spend alot of time washing each others legs just in case. If you can get it sprayed between their toes before you go out it stops it getting between their toes too which is where it can cause alot of discomfort, all up legs and around tails too. As I said I have had to use some with garlic in which has caused a few comments in the beating trailer while Florin (the clumber) sits there all dignified wondering why people sniffing her!! But if it works ............. :D
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I put olive oil all over beaus legs and ears but it didn't help at all, he cold barely walk because of the snowballs stuck to him so I had to carry him home!
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Spray cooking oil! The "lite" variety works best. You then need warm soapy water on your return otherwise you get oil marks everywhere. Works a treat.
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olive oil it is then ...thanks for the tip everyone ;) :-*
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I use a doggy conditioning spray, seems to work very well with Brodie and doesn't leave her coat slightly greasy like the olive oil does (plus she doesn't spend ages trying to lick it off :lol2:)
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I use a doggy conditioning spray, seems to work very well with Brodie and doesn't leave her coat slightly greasy like the olive oil does (plus she doesn't spend ages trying to lick it off :lol2:)
Yes, I use conditioner too - slightly diluted so that I can put it in a spray bottle.
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I didn't have spray olive oil so just put it on with my hands. No trouble with icy pads or snow balls on our walk today and i have nice soft hands! I didn't put loads on, just enough to make fur look glossy. Can't see any marks on carpet or sofa but i have so many marks already i've forgotten what the original carpet looked like!
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Just come back from a walk using olive oil. I didn't have the spray stuff so rubbed bottle one over her pads, legs etc. We still had snowballs on legs plus but nothing between the pads :luv:.
Bought a spray oil whilst I was out so will try that later. Plenty of snow falling to test it on....
Off to post the photo evidence in Particolours ;) :005:
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Olive oil between the pads worked wonderfully, thanks :luv:
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Olive oil is great for stopping snow balls but not good if you want to prevent mayhem, last year I sprayed both dogs with fry light and all was going swimmingly until the delightful Harry decided to attempt to lick the oil from Ben 'Mr leave my feet alone or else there will be trouble'
It wasn't pretty......... :005:
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I had to wipe paw- shaped stains on the wooden floor, but I don't mind :luv:
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Anyone used Mushers Wax?? My friend the lovely Joy at Scrufts has just told me she uses it for her Sussex Spaniels in the snow and she says it works a treat for them.
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I have used olive oil tipped straight from the bottle into my hands then onto Rube but as Jenny has said it's a race to do all four paws,legs and bottom of ears before she licks it off :P and when it's fresh on it will stain >:(
I did progress onto the spray olive oil but i think the trick to no snowballs is not to be to mean with the amount you spray.I have found a good coating helps and make sure it is rubbed into the feet.
I haven't used a conditioning spray but will def try one out.
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I took Henry out this afternoon (this morning was his first ever snow experience) and decided to try the Equafleece body suit. I was amazed at how effective it was. He got some small snow balls in his ears (after lots and lots of rolling around with puppy friends), but they melted within about five minutes of getting home - none of the huge ones. The equafleece was almost dry in spite of all the rolling. I've got some paw wax (thanks to Cassie!) which I'll try tomorrow on his pads - after his morning walk his paws were clearly uncomfortable and I ended up carrying him most of the way home. Olive oil would not work for me as I have carpets, and oil would definitely make marks.
So for me the Equafleece body suit is definitely the way forward. If I wanted to avoid the ear problem I could always get him a snood, but I'm not sure I could face the embarrassment - it was bad enough with a cocker that looked like a poodle with big fluffy feet sticking out of the fleece!
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I used to do a bit of cooking spray, but hated the greasy residue and the smell.
Musher's Secret paw wax works much better. It works extremely well between the toes and a little bit rubbed on the feathering and ears prevents any snow balling on there as well. There's no greasy residue, it smells pleasant, and it makes my hands nice and soft as well.
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I've just come across this thread and there's been quite a bit of snow here in Newcastle and Harry naturally has been enjoying it, prior to having the snip last Thursday but took him out for a gentle one and no snowballs at all on his feet, ears or anywhere!!
Not sure why, I'd just never thought of it. He's a working Cocker so has less of a coat than a show but I am sure he has the same paws. I'll check again this morning when I take him out.
Weird :dunno:
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Spud my border terrier doesn't get them so coat type definitely makes a difference but i still put oil on his paws to protect them. Also at risk of sounding like british rail, snow type makes a difference,some snow seems stickier!
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Well I put some Olive Oil on Jinley before our walk this morning, but as she was so excited only got it on her ears and feet! Had to use it from the bottle and it was my best Extra Virgin >:( >:(. Then I forgot my gloves so had to open the front door again then try and put my gloves on, all the time Jinley running in circles in the fresh stuff on the front lawn!!
Well it worked but the problem is where there wasnt any ended up with huge snowballs. Dunked her in a bucket when we got home, and guess what?? Ten minutes later she is back outside and now she has pom poms hanging off her again.
I dont think there is enough Olive Oil in Italy to stop Jinleys snowballs!!
I dont know why I bother!! >:D
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Oh Pat sounds like you had as much fun as i did trying to get it on the dog, plus i had a 4 year old quite reasonably enquiring what on earth i was doing! Have just bought some spray sun flower oil, our co op doesn't do spray olive oil. Assume sun flower oil is ok?
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Oh Pat sounds like you had as much fun as i did trying to get it on the dog, plus i had a 4 year old quite reasonably enquiring what on earth i was doing! Have just bought some spray sun flower oil, our co op doesn't do spray olive oil. Assume sun flower oil is ok?
I was thinking more of a sheep dip type of contraption!!
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Oh Pat sounds like you had as much fun as i did trying to get it on the dog, plus i had a 4 year old quite reasonably enquiring what on earth i was doing! Have just bought some spray sun flower oil, our co op doesn't do spray olive oil. Assume sun flower oil is ok?
I was thinking more of a sheep dip type of contraption!!
:rofl1: :rofl1: :rofl1: I tried spray oil this morning .......not sure how much ended up on the ears and feathers :-\ but it worked :D ......there again it may have been the 'type' of snow this morning :dunno:
Mollie,(and me) says thank you so much Lindsey for starting this thread .......was much needed :-*
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spent 30minutes in the park yesterday and terri had some snowball grown on him!!!
i was so annoyed and wanted to scissor off some of his fluff on feet! (they need scissoring soon though....)
i got a equafleece bodysuit, will try it tomorrow, if it doesnt work, will try the groomers detangling spray before olive oil, it's not ideal to have oil mark at hom! :lol:
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My two had olive oil on their feet and a little way up their leg feathering before their walk this morning and it worked well. By the time they got home it had pretty well gone so I just wiped them down as usual and no trace of the olive oil remained, so no marks on the carpets or sofa :blink:
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olive oil failed Hazel today ... though it worked between her pads, she still had snowballs up to the bottom of her trouser suit!
I thought I was going to dislocate her shoulder trying to get her trouser suit off over them :o
Luckily not though, and a warm shower later and she wanted back out in the garden,just like Jinley :lol:
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We've now tried the spray olive oil. It didn't prevent the snowballs on her legs but did stop lumpy paws. But the oil I rubbed in straight out of the bottle yesterday did that too.
I think I'm going to invest in some Mushers Wax for future snow, see how we get on.
Agree Kelly, had great difficulty getting the damn coat off over the snowball bootees! :lol2:
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Well Willow has had two showers today and I will be glad when the snow has gone now..... :-\
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I think that the leave in conditioner seems to work better than olive oil (but I guess it could depend on the type of snow and the length of time you are out in it) all I can say is daisy wore her equa fleece and had spray on leave in conditioner and we were out for a long time, she came back home with no snow balls, smells gorgeous from the conditioner and there was no oily marks around the house. ;)
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Well we went on a walk to the local park today with Pearl.
I had put some Olive Oil on Jinley before we set off and the amount of snow on Pearls legs was far greater than that on Jinleys. So I would say that it works. She just smells of chips now!! Not sure how I will stomach that when I am having my morning cocker cuddle!! :lol2:
Can I ask if the leave in conditioner is doggy conditioner??
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After coat conditioner didn't work yesterday, today I tried this:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Groomers-Grooming-Spray-Groom-Tangle/dp/B0030DEP5A/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1358706388&sr=8-2
Have to say, his feet only had a few little snowballs on them and when I took his suit off, there were quite big snowballs inside the legs but they hadn't stuck to his fur at all, like they did yesterday. I would say this has certainly helped and he was out for three hours.
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(http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s470/ellicotte/image_zpsf7654d3e.jpg)
Check these snow balls out .....
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After coat conditioner didn't work yesterday, today I tried this:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Groomers-Grooming-Spray-Groom-Tangle/dp/B0030DEP5A/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1358706388&sr=8-2
Have to say, his feet only had a few little snowballs on them and when I took his suit off, there were quite big snowballs inside the legs but they hadn't stuck to his fur at all, like they did yesterday. I would say this has certainly helped and he was out for three hours.
You know, I think that's what I use ph34r. I have two bottles, a conditioning spray and a detangling spray and now I'm wondering which one I used last year successfully. We are meant to be getting lots of snow tomorrow so guess I'll find out!
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After coat conditioner didn't work yesterday, today I tried this:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Groomers-Grooming-Spray-Groom-Tangle/dp/B0030DEP5A/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1358706388&sr=8-2
Have to say, his feet only had a few little snowballs on them and when I took his suit off, there were quite big snowballs inside the legs but they hadn't stuck to his fur at all, like they did yesterday. I would say this has certainly helped and he was out for three hours.
You know, I think that's what I use ph34r. I have two bottles, a conditioning spray and a detangling spray and now I'm wondering which one I used last year successfully. We are meant to be getting lots of snow tomorrow so guess I'll find out!
Jenny, it's the white liquid which is called anti tangle. I use it to remove knots and mats and it's fantastic for that so I thought I'd give it a go for preventing snowballs too.
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As you can see from my picture post above dolly turns into a poodle in the snow!, I've just given up and stick her in a bowl of water on return including equafleece and they seem to dissolve !!
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After coat conditioner didn't work yesterday, today I tried this:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Groomers-Grooming-Spray-Groom-Tangle/dp/B0030DEP5A/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1358706388&sr=8-2
Have to say, his feet only had a few little snowballs on them and when I took his suit off, there were quite big snowballs inside the legs but they hadn't stuck to his fur at all, like they did yesterday. I would say this has certainly helped and he was out for three hours.
You know, I think that's what I use ph34r. I have two bottles, a conditioning spray and a detangling spray and now I'm wondering which one I used last year successfully. We are meant to be getting lots of snow tomorrow so guess I'll find out!
Jenny, it's the white liquid which is called anti tangle. I use it to remove knots and mats and it's fantastic for that so I thought I'd give it a go for preventing snowballs too.
I will spray half of her with one bottle and the other half with the other and see which one works best :lol2:
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had better success today in the snow with a leave in conditioner (actually a human one called 'Naked - Miracle worker').
Was great on M&J .. however Hazel went ditch and puddle diving so her wet feathering just attracted snow like a magnet ph34r
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Don't know whether it was the conditioner or type of snow, but I used a small amount of Pantene conditioner on my two today (paws, feathers and ears) and no snow balls. They don't have 4-legged suits, so legs all exposed.
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I have used the instant detangle spray for dogs by john paul today and it has worked as well as the leave in dog conditioner that I have been using. I have not tried human leave in conditioner but I expect it would probably work just as well :005:
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Don't know whether it was the conditioner or type of snow, but I used a small amount of Pantene conditioner on my two today (paws, feathers and ears) and no snow balls. They don't have 4-legged suits, so legs all exposed.
I did post on the other thread that someone had recommended using Pantene i think it is because of the silicone content it stops the snow sticking. ;)
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I tried the spray sunflower oil today and whilst it did work, i managed to spray myself quite liberally as well. Think i will try leave in conditioner tomorrow, we've had loads more snow here today.
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I completely forgot >:( to oil Tootsie this morning, and omg she was covered in snowballs by the time we got home, its my first winter with her and our first experience of her in the snow, I wont be forgetting the oil again :005: a lukewarm shower sorted her out.
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Anyone used Mushers Wax?? My friend the lovely Joy at Scrufts has just told me she uses it for her Sussex Spaniels in the snow and she says it works a treat for them.
I use it with all three of mine and it is absolutely brilliant. Came back this morning not a snowball between them :D
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After seeing poor Finny chewing at his paws on Friday because of the snow, i took action for his walk on Saturday. I put some olive oil into an old squirty hair styling product bottle. Sprayed all 4 paws & feathering and his ears and it
worked a treat :D some bobbles managed to get inside his equafleece but after a luke warm shower he was a happy boy. :D
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Well after walking around today with a giant snowball we popped into petshop on the way home & got some Te tangle spray & conditioning spray. Fingers crossed it'll work!!
(http://i853.photobucket.com/albums/ab96/SpickyDavies1/DSC09450.jpg)
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:fear2: that's some serious snowballs you've got there Pepper :-\ :luv:
hope the detangling spray does the trick ...hope you got a big bottle too - looks like you're going to need it with that much snow about :021:
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I have groomers detangling spray so I tried it on phoebe and Mia today, it does work but only until the snow washed it off >:(
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2 hours in the park....
i got my test result!
equafleece body suit: it only works to a certain extend, snowballing at lower limb and the bottom bit... but it's still a good idea!
detangling spray: i used a cheap one today, it doesnt work, was planning to use groomers tomorrow, but i guess it will washed off, so will try dilute conditioner!
maybe will do a testing with "control", one leg with groomers detangling spray, one with diluted doggy conditioner, one with human leave in conditioner, one with nothing :005:
not a fan of oil~~ only will do this as last resort!!
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Well, results of my very unscientific trials are: spray sunflower oil useless, on basis got more on me than on dog. Olive oil applied by hand worked well but messy and stains. Dogs Trust Dry Shampoo brilliant. Easy to apply, smells lovely and not one snow ball.
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My two are clipped now but when Dennis had a full coat i used canter coat shine or mane and tail.
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Well after walking around today with a giant snowball we popped into petshop on the way home & got some Te tangle spray & conditioning spray. Fingers crossed it'll work!!
(http://i853.photobucket.com/albums/ab96/SpickyDavies1/DSC09450.jpg)
Ohhh pepper, yu luks lyke a sno pupy! yaw snobals is mush wurser than myne woz! I howpes yu cud wark home lyk that.
luv ozzy xxx
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I'm still using the Groomers detangle spray (and a four legged suit and snood) and Toby is still getting a few snowballs on his feet. He's not a happy bunny about having his feet plunged in water so today I brushed out the snowballs with his slicker brush - it worked a treat, so quick and easy. (Just a note - be very careful if you walk your dog over roads that have been treated with rocksalt. It can get on their paws and between their toes and if they lick them afterwards, it can have very serious consequences. I actually carried Toby over a treated road today).
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I'm still using the Groomers detangle spray (and a four legged suit and snood) and Toby is still getting a few snowballs on his feet. He's not a happy bunny about having his feet plunged in water so today I brushed out the snowballs with his slicker brush - it worked a treat, so quick and easy. (Just a note - be very careful if you walk your dog over roads that have been treated with rocksalt. It can get on their paws and between their toes and if they lick them afterwards, it can have very serious consequences. I actually carried Toby over a treated road today).
Ive just started a thread about the rocksalt....see below...
http://www.cockersonline.co.uk/discuss/index.php?topic=101552.0
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On my two yesterday I rubbed olive oil into their paws but didn't put any on their legs. We went on the golf course and their paws were fine but their legs were covered in snowballs. Today I smoothed Groomers Evening Oil of Primrose conditioner on both paws & legs, went onto the same golf course and had no snowballs whatsoever.
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Spray leave-in conditioner worked a treat today
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After coat conditioner didn't work yesterday, today I tried this:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Groomers-Grooming-Spray-Groom-Tangle/dp/B0030DEP5A/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1358706388&sr=8-2
Have to say, his feet only had a few little snowballs on them and when I took his suit off, there were quite big snowballs inside the legs but they hadn't stuck to his fur at all, like they did yesterday. I would say this has certainly helped and he was out for three hours.
You know, I think that's what I use ph34r. I have two bottles, a conditioning spray and a detangling spray and now I'm wondering which one I used last year successfully. We are meant to be getting lots of snow tomorrow so guess I'll find out!
Jenny, it's the white liquid which is called anti tangle. I use it to remove knots and mats and it's fantastic for that so I thought I'd give it a go for preventing snowballs too.
I will spray half of her with one bottle and the other half with the other and see which one works best :lol2:
Well I did this :P and both seemed to work very well. I used the anti tangle spray mentioned above by Neon and the Groomers Conditioning Spray with Evening Primrose Oil.
They seem to last quite a while with Brodie too, I don't need to reapply until the next day.
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Ozzy had snowballs the first day after it had snowed, and i showered his legs and tummy with warm water to melt them (he wasn't keen at first but got used to it after a minute or two) He hasn't had any since, apart from the second day when he had a few on his feet, but they were tiny and melted as soon as we got indoors, without any help from me. I haven't used anything to try and stop them because until I read this thread yesterday I didn't know there was anything you could do to stop them. I'm sure that it was the type of snow that first day, very dry and powdery. Even though it's still laying around here, it's much more frozen now, and isn't adhering to his fluff any more. Next time we get a fresh fall I'm going to try conditioner and see if it works.