Thank-you for the replies.

They don't use salt up here (sand only) so that is not a concern, and I am walking them off-leash in the snowmobile trails in the bush behind my house so there is definately no salt.

It is actually the lab who seems to suffer from it worse, of course they are both getting older (9 years old) which may be a factor as I don't remember it bothering them so much before. My lab X comes running up in front of me periodically on three legs and won't let me continue walking until I hold the affected paw in my hands for a few seconds. Come to think of it, it could just be an attention ploy (LOL).

The other problem I had with the boots is that they don't seem to stay on very well while they are off running (even while they are not biting them!) and I spend half my excursion trying to find doggie boots in two feet of snow! I think I will try the jackets and see what happens, they certainly can't hurt. I'll post results for you other cold-weather dwellers.