WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!

Today is Autism Awareness Day and April is Autism Awareness Month and we would like to take this time to show our support for the autism and neurodivergent community. As many of you know Autism Awareness and Acceptance is very near and dear to our hearts here at Cold Mountain. We are asking all of our extended Cold Mountain family to please help us again this year in supporting Team Landens Legends in the Eagles Autism Challenge! We can’t thank you enough for your continued loyalty, dedication and love! 100% of your donation goes to the Eagles Autism Foundation.

Click Here for more info!

Cold Mountain Pup becomes Tracker

Thank You Karen Ernest for your training and dedication to Smudgsicle! We are so proud he is a Cold Mountain Puppy! The youngest Siberian to obtain this title! Congratulations!

Protect those Paws

Protecting your dogs paws this winter

Currently here in Jersey we are getting hit with a new snow storm almost every day. This beautiful winter snow is like a big, fluffy white playground for a Siberian Husky. Their thick double coat insulates and protects from freezing cold temperatures. Their almond shaped eyes help protect them from the brightness of a white winter wonderland. However what is not very protected is their paws.

Ardyn from Cherry Hill, NJ

While huskies absolutely love to be outside and active in the snow, owners must be aware of how hazardous ice melting salt can be to a dogs paws. Ice melting salt, sometimes called road salt is great for melting icy snow and providing traction but it can cause your dogs paws severe pain. Many ice melt salt products contain toxic chemicals like calcium chloride, magnesium chloride and ethylene glycol.

Ice melting agents can irritate your dogs paws and skin and cause cracking and dryness. The salts can also get stuck in-between their paws, causing discomfort and making it difficult to walk. I have seen this first hand with my schnoodle. This is common with products containing calcium chloride or magnesium chloride (which is almost all ice melt products). Signs include chaffed, cracked, or bleeding paws or paws with red, or inflamed skin around the edges. Watch out for behavioral signs as well such as reluctance to walk, lifting up their paws as if the ground is hot, excessive licking of their paws or vocal signs of pain. In severe cases ice melting agents can cause burns on the pads of a dogs paws.

There are non-toxic products marked as "pet safe" and sold specifically to avoid skin irritation in pets. Although these products are not completely safe because there is always a chance of ingestion and irritation if your dog is more sensitive than others, products like Safe Paw are a much better alternative if you do need an ice melting solution.

However we at Cold Mountain feel as though the best protection and treatment for your dogs paws is just to apply a small amount of Bag Balm to the bottom of their paws. You can do this before they go outside and after they come back in a couple times a day. You can pick up Bag Balm at Tractor Supply, Wal-Mart or on Amazon for about $8. Also be sure to keep your dogs paws clean if they have stepped in salt by simply dipping them in a bucket of warm, soapy water and wiping clean with a towel.

Keeping your dogs paws clean and protected will ensure they have a healthy and happy outdoor experience!

-Ashley Steever

Media Director