Oh yeah and if you see your boots have even a small split in it DON'T wait till you have time or money to fix it!  IT WILL BE TOO LATE IF YOU DO!!!  If you are hard up for time or money then at the ver LEAST do  this:  Clean the entire boot off spotless with WD 40 or maybe paint thinner NOT WATER!  when it is all clean take that real clingly plastic food wrap from the ol ladies kitchen and wrap it around the entire boot several time very tightly so no dirt or water can get in.  Then take bleac electical tape and secure the wrap so it stays put.  Now IF it look like the boot has been split wide open for a long time you are probably screwed but you might be able to save it if it has not got a bunc of water and dirt in there.  If that is the case and you can't get it fixed right this second then do the same as above but first tryy hosing it out a littlewith wd 40, compressed air if you got it  and then squirt or pack as much grease as you can get in it THEN seal it up with the wrap ... this might keep you going a few days till you can get the cash and time to get the boot replaced .... DON't IGNORE those puppies cause they WILL bite you hard!