As the colder months creep in, so does our winter wardrobe. We wrap ourselves up in woolly hats, scarfs, gloves and thick coats. But we’re not the only ones affected by the cold. Our pets need a little extra forethought and TLC throughout the winter months to stay safe, warm, active and happy. All animals react differently to the cold with age, health and regular exposure as contributing factors, so we wanted to ensure you are fully prepared to take on winter together with your pooch, hand in paw!
Winter Walking Essentials
Colder temperatures and shorter days come as a package deal, and both can affect your dog’s daily routine. Whilst it’s important your dog’s schedule is disrupted as little as possible, it can be hard to maintain with the lifestyle impact that longer and darker nights bring.
Our dogs enjoy their walks, but in the dark it can be difficult to see potential hazards (slippery paths and obstacles for example) and so a night time walk can soon become more of a struggle than a pleasure. Plus, if your dog doesn’t have great eyesight anyway then a walk in the dark can be very unsettling for them. But the good news is that we’ve got some top tips on how to keep safe on darker nights. Our first tip is to walk your dog during daylight hours, but we understand that is not always possible, so we also recommend:
- Investing in high-visibility coats, one for you and one for your dog. This will help you both find each other on darker nights should you become separated. It also helps other people (including drivers!) to see you. You can also purchase high-vis collars, leads and clip-on lights for dogs too.
- Extendable leads are great for giving your dog space to explore for themselves, while staying close enough and connected to you at all times, preventing them from running off into the darkness, busy roads or freezing cold lakes. Just be sure you know how to operate them, you don’t give them too much free reign near roads and you are aware of the hazards the thinner lines can cause to other dogs and people.
- For some dogs, a daily walk might not be enough to burn off all their energy and tire them out for the evening ahead. So if you do take your dog off the lead for a game of fetch, frisbee or chase, please ensure you do so in a well-lit area (and their recall is nothing short of perfection).
- Always take your phone and a torch with you (and check they are fully charged and working before you leave home). It is better to have them and not need them, than to need them and not have them… Wouldn’t you agree?
Canine Care in Winter
It’s not just cold and dark nights we need to consider. Stormy and snowy weather can disrupt our pet’s routine too. Keep an eye on the weather forecast when planning an outing with your dog and, if it isn’t looking good, perhaps your pet pooch might enjoy a couple of shorter walks instead (dodging the windy weather) rather than one long walk where you both risk getting cold and wet.
Did you know dogs can slip and fall on icy surfaces (just like us) and snow can build up in their paws which can be quite uncomfortable? You can prevent a snowy build-up by keeping the hair between your dog’s paw pads trimmed, making it harder for the snow to stick and clump together – much easier than putting a pair of boots on a dog! When you arrive back home, it’s important to check your dog’s paws for a build-up of snow, grit or salt as these can make them very sore. Rather than pulling it out by hand, try soaking their paws in warm water instead – a gentle solution your canine companion will appreciate!
As we head outside and pile on the layers, you will need to think about how your dog will stay warm too. Usually their fur will be enough to keep them warm, but smaller dogs with thinner fur, or those who are unwell or in their senior years, may need a helping hand. In fact, some dogs struggle to regulate their own body temperature, risking hypothermia (more on that below). Investing in a winter (and waterproof!) coat or jumper for your dog is an ideal way to help them keep warm on cold winter walkies.
We humans aren’t always eager to get outdoors in freezing temperatures and our dogs may feel the same, but it is vital they still get their daily exercise (not only does this help towards their overall wellbeing, but an inactive dog can display behavioural problems too). If your walks are shorter than normal because of the wintery weather, you can always engage in playtime at home with your dog to help them burn energy and keep them occupied. That said, if their exercise regime is reduced, their food intake may need altering too. They won’t need as much grub if they aren’t as active so check their food packaging as there should be a guideline of how much to feed dogs based on the breeding, size and activity.
A Happy, Healthy Winter
A big drop in temperature can be a health risk to our pets. Our dogs can start to get stiff joints and, for older canines who already suffer with arthritis, cold weather can cause considerable pain. A few extra blankets for their bed at night will help keep them warm – if we’re wrapped up at night in thick duvet covers, why shouldn’t our pets be just as cosy?
We touched on it earlier, but we urge all responsible dog owners to keep their furry friend on a lead around frozen ponds and lakes. Some dogs love the water and won’t hesitate to jump in. Jumping four-feet first into freezing cold waters will put your pooch at risk of hypothermia. Hypothermia is defined as the point at which the core body temperature falls below 37°C. It will occur if your dog gets too cold and is most common in dogs when they have been in freezing water, even if only for a few minutes. Extreme hypothermia is very serious and can be fatal. Here are some signs and symptoms to be aware of:
- Weak pulse and slow heartrate
- Dilated pupils
- Shivery and stiff with cold
- Confused and disorientated
And here’s what you can do to treat hypothermia in your dog:
- Keep them still and wrap them in warm, dry clothing (towels, blankets and coats work well)
- Increase the room temperature
- Wrap warm water bottles around them as well as your own body heat
- Seek urgent advice from your Vet regardless of any home treatment
Our final tip for taking care of your dog in winter is to ensure all antifreeze and de-icer products are kept out of reach of all pets and at all times! Used in car radiators and to clear ice on windscreens, these products are incredibly toxic for our pets (not just dogs) and can even be fatal. If you suspect your pet may have licked some antifreeze, tell your Vet immediately so they can start treatment straight away. Never wait for symptoms to appear.
To stock up on winter-warming products and accessories for your dog, pop into our High Street store where we have everything you need to share a safe, happy and warm winter with your furry friend. Our animal-loving team are on hand to share advice and to help you find exactly what you’re looking for.