Winter Health Care

Winter is here! That means frigid temperatures and that gosh darn snow falling from the sky.  While some dogs love romping through the snow drifts and chomping at snowflakes there are risks to be considered during this time of year. There are also guidelines to be followed whether it comes to a simple outdoor walk to actual outdoor living. Just because they are an "animal" doesn’t mean they are equipped to be outside for long periods of time. While the simple solution would be to bring all your pets into the warm inside, we know that some pets are just meant to be outdoor animals.

Tres the Dog

Outdoor Shelter

• The structure needs to be well insulated, held off the ground, and small enough to maintain body heat. If the shelter is placed directly on the frozen ground, the warmth can be sucked right out of your pet while it is sleeping.

• The shelter should be just large enough for your animal to stand up in and turn around comfortably. The structure should be small enough to maintain your pet’s body heat.

• Bedding is important for outdoor animals. If you are using blankets, remember to switch them out often since they can become stiff with frozen moisture and not maintain heat well. If you are using straw or another organic material you have to watch for skin irritation and insect infestation.

Unfrozen Water

• Pets need a constant supply of fresh, unfrozen water. Eating snow or licking ice does not provide enough water. Even a thin layer of ice over the water source should be broken or removed. Your pet will not understand that all they have to do is break the ice with a paw.

• Please do not use metal bowls since tongues can stick to the frozen sides and cause painful wounds.

• Heated water bowls are a great idea for cold weather. Just make sure to tack down and hide cords to prevent fire hazards or electrocution.

Food

• Lower temperatures means that your pet's body has to work harder to produce heat. If your animal lives outside or spends a lot of time outdoors then you will have to increase the amount of food so that they will have plenty of fuel to burn.

Batman the Boston terrier

Clothing Never be embarrassed to put sweaters or booties onto your pet. Like human, dogs and cats can suffer from hypothermia and frostbite. Smaller or short-hair breeds of dogs should only be outside for short periods of time. Wearing a coat will greatly decrease any risks for low temperature-related illness. Booties are a great idea for dogs. Ice can be very sharp and the snow can hide objects. This is the time of year we start to see pets in for lacerations on their paws.