Must know Winter tips for dogs

Most of us know to dress warmly, wear gloves and take other precautions when it's cold and snowing out. We especially know to make sure our kids are dressed correctly for cold weather. It's just second nature to not want to be uncomfortable so we take measures to prevent against it as much as we can. Most people don't think about their dog in the same way though. 

Many pet owners believe that because their dog has a fur coat that they can tolerate the cold better then we can. That's not always the case. Truth is, they're just as used to a nice warm house as we are...and the cold weather can be just as much of a shock to them as it is to us. Luckily there are a few simple things you can do to make winter a little easier on them.

•  Trim the fur on the sides of your dogs paws and between the toes to minimize ice and snow accumulation.

•  Your dog’s fur insulates him against the temperatures. Groom your dog regularly during winter to keep his coat in top shape. A well groomed coat can help a dog to hold onto his body heat better.

• Be careful with space heaters and fireplaces. When cold, dogs will seek out heat sources and may sleep too close to them. You wouldn't want your pooch to get burned.  

•  Dress your pet, especially if she has short or thin fur. Not only do they look cute, but a sweater, coat or even an old shirt will help to retain body heat and keep her dry. Walmart carries dog sweaters in all sizes from $6-$9 so you don't have to spend a ton, and they're cute. In I Dressed The Dogs, I wrote about how I find cheap or free sweaters and coats for my dogs.

• Clear as much snow as possible from the areas your dog walks in like sidewalks and driveways. Snow starts to melt as soon as it gets near the dogs body heat which quickly makes the fur on their legs wet. Keeping them out of deep snow helps them to stay dry (and warm) longer. Here are some great ways to Remove snow from a gravel driveway.

•  Use a pet-friendly ice melter on sidewalks, driveways and patios instead of the regular rock salt or other chemical ice melters. We like Safe Paw (we get it at Sam's club. They usually have the best price)
  

•  Massaging coconut oil or a Paw Balm into paw pads before going outside helps to protect from salt and other chemicals. (the paw balm in the link is non-toxic and hypoallergenic!)   

•  Better yet, get a set of doggy boots. Boots help minimize contact with salt crystals and chemical ice-melting agents. They keep the paws clean so you don't have to wash them off when they come inside. Just slip the boots back off and your done. No more worrying about them licking salt from their paws. Plus, it's really funny the first time a dog wears a pair! (videotape that! 😂) These are the ones my dog has.  

•  If you can't use boots, wash and dry your pet's feet to remove any chemicals after walking so they don't lick their paws. 
  

•  Rub coconut oil into your dogs paws after washing to heal dryness and prevent cracking of the pads. Do not use petroleum jelly as they may lick it off and the chemicals are not good for them!
  

• If the weather's too cold for you, it's probably too cold for them too. The colder it gets the less time they should be outside. People tend to think that animals can handle winter weather because of their fur. This only works if they were acclimated slowly like an outdoors only dog (who should still have adequate shelter from the elements) With inside dogs their fur does not grow in thicker over winter and they really don't have that much protection from the cold, especially short haired breeds. Dogs are susceptible to both frostbite and hypothermia and should be kept inside as much as possible.

• I know it's not as big of a problem as it is in summer, but fleas and ticks are still around in winter. Don't skimp of the flea preventatives just because it's chilly out. This is especially important if you go to dog parks where other dogs will be playing. It only takes seconds for fleas to hop off one host and find another so make sure your dog is protected. 

• Keep your dog on a leash or in a fenced dog park area. Many dogs become lost in the snow because they can lose your scent easily and become lost as they try to find you.

• If you're cold, they're cold! Keep walks short and to the point. Playing with your dogs indoors can help burn off excess energy when you can't spend time outside. 

Lets keep all our furred friends warm and healthy this winter!

~L

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