Ice Balls! AGH!!

[Cheetah]

Ok, so today was the first MAJOR snow I had to take Shippo out in. With him being a corgi, the snow went up to his neck. He got snow/ice balls all in his armpits and on his "pants"/hind leg feathering and on the insides of his hind legs. I had to pick them all off, which was not very fun, and a bit painful for my fingers lmao...

And I even got some of that spray-on crap that is supposed to act as a snow-ice melter... It didn't work.

So, does anyone have suggestions? Does anyone else use something else to prevent ice balls on their dogs that works?

 

[BSan]

What about a blowdryer? hehe I guess I will run into same this winter.....never had a dog with long hair before. I am already finding him to be like a swiffer, collecting just about anything!!! Can't wait for the ice balls!

 

[Chemikal]

I try to groom my dog before winter hits. Grooming eliminates iceballs (well about 95.9 of them) for the rest I just take a blowdryer or something thats heat. My dog looks like a sheepdog if I dont get him groomed. You dont want to groom him alot like in the winter cause he might get cold. But take little off the parts that collect alot.

Hope this helps

 

[ejabarnes]

use a hairdryer to melt the ice you can buy special boots for dogs and clothes that are designed for the winter weather which work thats if you want to be seen with boots on your dog lol

 

[ToscasMom]

Does this happen to Collies? We have had some snow but not alot so far. Do I have this to look forward to?

 

[chinchow]

I groom regularly, since a clean brushed coat usually acts as a better barrier.
But they still get these ice balls on them as well. I just use a blowdryer, and brush easily as it melts so it doesn't mat up.

 

[sam]

We deal with that 5 months of the year. It's a pain but my dogs tend to their own ice balls for the most part. The only ones that bother them are the ones inbetween their pads. If they stop and are licking/biting them, I can usually pull them out pretty quickly for them. The balls on their pants and leg feathers really don't bother them and so I don't do anything - might be different for a corgi though.
I do have a product I like called Survivor detangler and shine made by Eqyss. www.eqyss.com I use it after bathing them. It makes their coats slippery and soft so they're easy to comb out. I think it would work well to keep the snow from sticking but holy does it makes my floors slippery.

 

[juleski]

We call this "bun fruit" on our pom! Usually at our house the cats chase her around and knock them off, then they all eat the snowballs. However, this year I have kept her buns a lilttle shorter, and she isn't getting as many. If it's in the front I just run a slicker over her when she comes inside.