Cold Weather Pet Tips

Cold Weather Pet Tips

Is it ever going to be really cold this winter? Ever since about mid-November, I keep thinking I should compile this article and, instead, another heat wave comes through. Sooner or later, though......

Most of the tips here are courtesy De Lana, a GRRRR volunteer, (maybe with a few minor changes) and they're really good ones. The rest come from either personal experience or the web pages listed at the end of the article.

As De Lana says, "Dogs enjoy the outdoors anytime of the year, but cold weather and snow and ice can be troublesome. These tips can help to ensure a healthy winter for your dog."

Don't leave your dog outside for too long in the cold; like you, your dog can get hypothermia and even frostbite. The air pockets in their coats insulate them nicely but if they are wet, the air gets compressed out and they may get cold.
Rinse off your dog's feet after walking on rock salt because it can irritate his foot pads. Also, snow balls in their pads should be removed manually. Keep the hair clipped short too. And dry after the rinsing.
If your dog gets wet from snow or sleet, dry him thoroughly with a towel or blow dry (set on warm, not hot, air). Lawrie dogs stand in line to be dried off!
Be careful if you walk your pet near frozen lakes and ponds; he could slip and become seriously injured or drown. If you can't skate on it, your dog probably shouldn't go on it either.
Never leave your dog in a vehicle because the cold air could become dangerous. On the other hand, sometimes even winter sun can overheat a car.
Your dog will need a little extra food in colder months for more energy production and to keep the body temperature regulated. (The dogs will resist this notion, of course!)
Be aware of poisonous substances, such as antifreeze, which may smell good and taste sweet to your dog - but is lethal. 1/2 teaspoon of Antifreeze per pound is enough to cause problems for your dog. Early detection and treatment is a must! There is no known truly safe antifreeze product on the market.
Don't forget that chocolate is also a bad substance for dogs (ref: Holiday Pet tips of the last newsletter). Theobromine in the chocolate is the culprit and there is more in dark chocolate than milk or light chocolate. 1/2 oz per pound of dog is enough to be fatal!
If you have a fireplace, make sure you put up a screen because your dog could get severly burned.
Dogs can become dehydrated in the winter, as well as in the summer, so always give them plenty of fresh water.
Finally, young dogs, debilitated dogs, and older dogs are probably the least tolerant of the colder weather. They may not be able to keep themselves warm.

Here a several websites for further information:
http://www.inch.com/~dogs/coldweather.html
http://www.geocities.com/~kidsanddogs/cold.html
http://www.canismajor.com/dog/winter2.html