Keeping your dog warm on winter walkies

As temperatures drop, we need to pay more attention to protecting our dogs from the elements. Ice and snow can be harsh on our pet’s paws, and although dogs pant to lose heat, they also loose vast amounts of heat via their feet, specifically the paw pads.

Some snug fitting boots can help protect our pet’s paws and maintain body heat.

Substances such as rock salt used to grit icy roads can cause sores on our dog’s feet and legs. Boots are one way of preventing this. It will take time for your dog to get used to walking in boots, use them for small periods of time around the house before going for a walk.

Rock salt can also lead to salt toxicity if ingested, it is therefore important to wash any residue off your dog once home from your walk.

Not all dogs will take to boots, and indeed you may feel you would like another option to protect those precious paws. There are several foot wax products available on the market, just one example is Mushers secret wax. This product can help form a protective barrier over your pet’s paw pads reducing the risk of injury in snow and ice. But it will not help with keeping them insulated.

Investing in a winter coat or jumper can help keep your dog warm and cosy.

Of course, some of our double coated breeds such as malamutes and husky’s already have a great functional winter coat, but with age they too may feel the cold and enjoy a winter jacket.

Recognising if your dog is indeed feeling cold is important. So what signs are you looking for that they are chilly or dangerously cold?

• Shallow breathing

• Shivering – can stop when temp dangerously low (below 30˚C)

• Pale gums

• Incoordination

• Lethargy

• Fixed dilated pupils – severe

The above signs include those seen in cases of severe hypothermia where temperature falls below 30°C. In mild cases, chilly dogs will shiver, and their gum colour may look a little paler, all other symptoms on the list suggest their condition is progressing and that they need to see a vet immediately. One thing that will help you is being able to take your dog’s temperature, something you can learn on a canine first-aid course.

How can you effectively warm a chilly dog?

• Warm the feet using bubble wrap and socks

• Wrap them in blankets, multiple layers work better than just one

• Use hot hands – these are latex, or vinyl gloves filled with water and placed around the dog especially on the groin and abdominal area. Make sure they are not too hot!

• Offer you dog some warm water to drink

• Offer something warm to eat such as scrambled eggs

The smaller the dog, the more they appear to suffer with the effects of cold weather. Also, the very young and old will find it difficult to keep warm on a cold day.

Dogs can have a lot of fun in the snow, but remember to keep them safe and toasty.