So if we boil it down, people tend to fall into the nail-based traction camp or the boot-based traction camp. Important PSA message: PawZ boots are not a product designed to be left on for long periods of time because they have the potential to impact circulation and cause serious harm. PawZ Dog Boots are great—but aren’t for traction But I’m also an integrative veterinarian who loves having as many tools as possible in my toolbox. There are certainly times when I believe PawZ boots are the best option for my patients. So, I do find myself recommending PawZ…although not for traction. What are PawZ Dog Boots? PawZ dog boots was in their “veterinary toolbox,” but they issued me a warning. If the top of the boot—which corresponds to the mouth of the balloon—is too tight around the dog’s leg, in a fairly short amount of time, it can cause severe tissue damage.

For these reasons—their design for short-term use, the superiority of nail-based traction, and the need to frequently take them on and off—I do not consider PawZ dog boots to be an indoor traction product. Because they are made of rubber, I’m sure they do function to improve the traction of a dog. However, the ideal traction product for dogs has to travel with the dog and stay on continuously. (Which is exactly why I love ToeGrips—they provide constant traction that travels!) Before I get into the meat of this story, I must disclose that ToeGrips is my patented product. I’m unapologetic in my view that they reign supreme when it comes to providing instant traction for dogs who struggle on hard-surface floors. On hot summer days, dark asphalt roads absorb a ton of heat. It’s General Science 101. I’m sure you’ve heard the expression that you could fry an egg on the road. It’s true, and your dog’s paws can suffer thermal injury too. PawZ boots can protect your dog’s paws from painful burns. 3. PawZ prevent icy paws Additionally, boots of any type affect proprioception in dogs—the ability to know where the body is spatially in relation to gravity. This is because boots cover over the abundance of receptors in the dog’s toes which feed the brain critical information. All dogs, but especially senior dogs or those with special needs, require that information to safely and successfully navigate their environment.

If you have any questions about which of these products is right for your dog’s situation, please reach out to your veterinarian. You can also gain useful information from talking with the customer service team for each product. Both PawZ and ToeGrips hold a special place in my “doggie solutions toolbox” and I hope that they will come to have a place in yours too. Have you tried PawZ Dog Boots for your dog? Since PawZ Dog Boots are a thin sheet of natural rubber, they are barely there compared to a “traditional dog boot.” This helps minimize their effects on a dog’s gait and proprioception and allows the dog to still somewhat feel the ground. 5 Stars for PawZ Dog Boots

PawZ boots are waterproof, which makes them handy in the elements! Keeping your dog’s paws dry can be more than just a cleanliness issue. A dog might have a wound on a paw that must stay clean and dry for proper healing. The moisture barrier feature is a true asset in PawZ waterproo f dog boots. 2. PawZ protect the paws from hot pavement I have already alluded to one of the reasons PawZ can be useful for some dogs. But let’s take a closer look at five reasons these waterproof, disposable, rubber dog boots have their place in my toolbox. 1. PawZ keep the paws from getting wet

However, I do routinely recommend PawZ dog boots for outside activity because of the five reasons above. Why “less is more” when it comes to dog boots PawZ boots can act as a simple (yet temporary) “band-aid” covering over the wound during the healing process, where a normal bandage would never stay on. But is your goal is gaining traction, I’m steering you to the patented design of ToeGrips dog nail grips. While PawZ boots have a lot of benefits, they simply can’t compete in that area.

ToeGrips are a nonslip material that fit on a dog’s toenail tips to enable the toenails to grip as they were intended. They provide instant traction. This can be life-changing for senior or special needs dogs who struggle on smooth surfaces like hardwood floors. So if you’re looking for a light, simple cover for your dog’s paws, my professional endorsement goes to PawZ Dog Boots. Just remember my PSA above—only use them for short periods of time and ensure they are not obstructing your dog’s circulation. Unsurprisingly, I’m willing to die on the hill of nail-based traction, which is how ToeGrips work to help dogs. In the story of ToeGrips, I share a bit more about how I discovered the idea of nail-based traction and soon fell in love with this approach. PawZ are focused toward keeping your dog’s paws clean, not for continuous traction. 5 Reasons I recommend PawZ Dog Boots Before I explain why ToeGrips are THE solution for traction, I need to explain the concept of nail-based traction.This is in contrast to the other school of thought—boot-based traction. For this approach, a boot is placed over the dog’s whole foot, much like we would put on a pair of hiking boots. Boots are a great traction aid for people. But not so much for dogs, as we will discuss later on. Recently I had a colleague ask me to compare PawZ Dog Boots to Dr. Buzby’s ToeGrips® dog nail grips. She had never used either and assumed that PawZ, like ToeGrips, were used for traction.