Tail-wagging dogs love the snow and drifts, but the Humane Society in western Pennsylvania sounded a warning after a cold, snowy snap: “Recently we have seen many dogs limping from the lack of proper foot care in these harsh weather conditions.”

“People just don’t understand what damage salt and cold weather can do to pets,” said Marsha Robbins, a dog trainer and “humane educator” at the Humane Society.

“I even saw one owner laughing at his dog who couldn’t walk any farther,” she said. “The poor dog had fallen to the ground in pain.”

The longhaired dog “had rock-salt wounds where ingrown hair was packed with snow between his pads. When I explained this to the owner, he felt pretty bad.”

At the very least, pet owners should keep the hair between the dog’s pads clipped short, so that snow and ice balls don’t build up, said Lee Nesler, executive director at the Humane Society.

If you’ve got a dog that hates to have its feet touched, have a groomer clip the toenails and trim the foot hair.

After any winter outing, wipe the dog’s feet, legs and stomach to make sure he doesn’t lick rock salt or de-icing chemicals, the Humane Society says. There are “pet-safe” sidewalk de-icers, but others are potentially toxic.

Northern breeds aren’t immune to the foot pain, Nesler said: “Even the huskies and malamutes that run in Alaska use mushers wax or wear boots to protect their feet.”

Musher’s Secret, found at www.musherssecret.net, is an “invisible boot” made from 100 percent natural wax. Wax applied on paw pads and between dog toes prevents the ravages of ice, snow and salt between the toes.

When dogs trot back into the house, the foot wax doesn’t rub off onto carpets or furniture.

Instructions say the wax, at $14.50 a jar, should be applied once a week.