Patent ID: 8161668

Claim:
A protective boot for an animal comprising: a generally cylindrical leg portion of a flexible material having a top end and a bottom end, said leg portion so dimensioned to extend upwardly a length along the leg of the animal to a location along said leg above the intermediate flexible joint and oversized to be loose fitting over the leg of the animal to accommodate added girth from bandages; a base portion configured generally circular in shape fixedly connected to the bottom end and sealing the bottom end; at least one strap fixedly connected to the leg portion at a connected end of said strap, comprising a free end located away from the connected end such that the fixed end of the at least one strap is sealingly attached to the leg portion so that the leg portion is waterproof, said at least one strap being operable to reduce the diameter of the leg portion in the vicinity of the strap; a top closure affixed to and circumscribing the leg portion protecting against infiltration into the protective boot of extraneous material and against the self-removal of the protective boot by the animal; said top closure being formed by a circumscribing fabric channel through which a drawstring is passed for tightening and loosening said top closure; and said drawstring including a locking mechanism.