Sled dogs are truely athletic dogs which - like human athletes - are regularly victims of sprains, tendonitis or cuts. Their pads, which are very resistant to snow, are however damaged by the ice which causes them abrasions and frostbites. It is for this reason that they are greased and that many sled dogs wear rubber or neoprene ‘boots’ when out and racing. These boots should be changed when they are too wet, to prevent the cold from hurting or numbing the animals’ paws.