Two years ago, we had several sets of stitches in dog paws from running in the snow once the hard ice crud got underneath it (perfect for cutting those fast moving paws) Now, as soon as the snow gets to that hard crunchy cutty stage, the dogs go out wearing winter boots 100% of the time. They don't much like it, but it saves us hundreds of dollars in vet bills and weeks and weeks of wrapped and bandaged paws