Dog care below freezing − the right way to keep your pet warm and secure from cold weather, road salt and more this winter

Time outside together with your dog within the spring, summer and fall may be lovely. Visiting your favorite downtown café on a cool spring morning, going to a favourite dog park on a transparent summer evening or happening walks along a river when the leaves are changing color are all wonderful when the weather is favorable. But in much of the country, when winter rolls around, previously hospitable conditions can quickly turn chilly and dangerous for people and pups alike.

Winter brings some unique challenges for dog owners, since dogs still need activity and socialization during colder seasons. Studies have shown that dog owners are almost 50% less more likely to walk their dogs when the weather gets cold. Knowing the fundamentals of winter safety is critical to maintaining a healthy lifestyle in your dog.

I’m an assistant professor on the University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine who weathered polar vortexes with my dog while living in Michigan early in my profession. While I’ve since moved to sunny California, I’ve seen how quickly frigid temperatures can turn dangerous for pets.

Breed and age differences

Not all dogs have the identical abilities to cope with cold weather. A brief-coated dog like a Chihuahua is rather more prone to the hazards of cold weather than a thick-coated husky. When the weather dips below 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius), the well-acclimated husky could also be comfortable, whereas the Chihuahua would shiver and be susceptible to hypothermia.

Additionally, in case your dog is used to warm weather, but you choose to maneuver to a colder region, the dog will need time to acclimate to that colder weather, even in the event that they have a thick coat.

Age also affects cold-weather resilience. Puppies and elderly dogs can’t withstand the chilliness in addition to other dogs, but every dog is exclusive – each can have individual health conditions or physical attributes that make them roughly resilient to cold weather.

When is my dog too cold?

Pet owners should give you the chance to acknowledge the symptoms of a dog that’s getting too cold. Dogs will shiver, and a few may vocalize or whine. Dogs may resist putting their feet down on the cold ground, or burrow, or try to search out warmth of their environment after they are uncomfortable.

Just like people, dogs can get frostbite. And identical to people, the signs can take days to seem, making it hard to evaluate them within the moment. The commonest sites for frostbite in dogs are their ears and the guidelines of their tails. Some of the initial signs of frostbite are skin discoloring, turning paler than normal, or purple, gray and even black; red, blistered skin; swelling; pain at the location; or ulceration.

Other serious signs of hypothermia include sluggishness or lethargy, and for those who observe them, please visit your veterinarian immediately. A very good rule to live by is that if it is simply too cold for you, it is simply too cold in your dog.

Getting your dog a sweater or jacket and paw covers can provide them with protection from the weather and keep them comfortable. Veterinarians also recommend closely monitoring your dog and limiting their time outside when the temperature nears the freezing point or drops below it.

Road salt dangers

Road salt that treats ice on streets and sidewalks also can harm dogs. When dogs walk on the salt, the sharp, rough edges of the salt crystals can irritate the sensitive skin on their paws.

Dogs will often lick their feet after they’re dirty, wet or irritated, and in the event that they ingest any salt doing that, they might face GI upset, dehydration, kidney failure, seizures and even death. Even small amounts of pure salt can disrupt critical body functions in dogs.

Some firms make pet-safe salt, but in public it may possibly be hard to inform what variety of salt is on the bottom. After walking your dog, wash off their feet or boots. You also can keep their paw fur trimmed to stop snow from balling up or salt collecting within the fur. Applying a skinny layer of petroleum jelly or paw pad balm to the skin of the paw pads also can help protect your pet’s paws from irritation.

Antifreeze risks

Antifreeze, or ethylene glycolis in most vehicles to stop the fluids from freezing when it gets cold out. Some people pour antifreeze into their toilets when away from their home to stop the water in the bathroom from freezing.

Antifreeze is an exceptionally dangerous chemical to dogs and cats, because it tastes sweet but may be deadly when ingested. If a pet ingests even a small amount of antifreeze, the substance causes a chemical cascade of their body that ends in severe kidney damage. If left untreated, the pet can have everlasting kidney damage or die.

There are safer antifreeze options in the marketplace that use ingredients aside from ethylene glycol. If your dog ingests antifreeze, please see your veterinarian immediately for treatment.

When temperatures dip below freezing, the perfect thing pet owners can do is keep the time spent outside as minimal as possible. Try some indoor activitieslike hide-and-seek with low-calorie treats, fetch and even an interactive obstacle course. Food puzzles also can keep your dog mentally engaged during indoor time.

Although winter presents some unique challenges, it may possibly still be an enjoyable and healthy time for you and your canine companion.