Boots on dogs? Sales are booming

Space heaters and shovels aren't the only items in high demand during this arctic cold snap.

Along with dog coats and sweaters, dog boots are flying off pet store shelves this week, suburban store owners say.

"We're almost sold out of everything," said Mia Indovina, manager of Bentley's Corner Barkery in Arlington Heights. "As soon as you get a couple of freezing cold days and there's salt on the ground, they start selling. We're waiting for our shipments, because we sell out really quick. We order a ton of every pair, in every size."

At Kriser's pet store in Glen Ellyn, customers have been snapping up everything from $10 rubber dog boots to $90 trail boots.

"(Sales) are absolutely growing, immensely," said manager Jim Pierce. "The rush is on."

When Bentley's opened in 2008, the store sold one type of dog boot.

Now it sells six or seven varieties plus a wide range of "outerwear."

Indovina and Pierce attribute the popularity of these items to the fact that people now treat their dogs like members of the family with modern comforts and top quality products. But they're also becoming more educated about the potential dangers of ice-melting salt on a dog's paws.

Burbank-based veterinarian Dr. Shannon Greeley, past president of the Chicago Veterinary Medicine Association, said the salt gets stuck between paw pads and can cause chemical burns.

Plus, dogs tend to lick it off their paws and ingest it, causing digestive problems.

"For pets that will tolerate those booties on their feet, it's a good idea," Greeley said. "It's an added layer of protection for the pets' paws."