Winter Pet Safety Tips: Looking After Your Dog in Winter

Although the days are pleasant right now with mild autumn temperatures, winter is coming, and keeping your dog warm and comfortable as it gets colder will be a priority!

Here are our top five winter pet safety tips.

1. Upper their food rations

Just like us, you may find your dog has more of an appetite during winter. While you don’t want your dog overeating, some extra food will help give them the energy they need to maintain their core temperature. This is particularly important if your dog spends a lot of time outdoors during cold weather. Not sure how much extra to feed during winter? Speak to your vet!

Don’t forget to keep up the supply of fresh, clean water either. If you’re in an area where you get severe frosts, check any outside water containers when you let your dog out in the morning to make sure they haven’t frozen overnight.

2. How to keep a dog warm at night

It’s really important that your dog has sufficient shelter from the weather and enough bedding to keep them warm and comfortable.

• Indoor dogs. Even dogs that spend most of their time indoors can get chilly overnight. Beds on the floor may not be the warmest option, as there are often draughts. A raised bed combined with a warm pet mat, soft snug bed or pet blanket on top of it is a good idea. Smaller breeds, and breeds with thin coats like greyhounds and Rhodesian ridgebacks, may also benefit from dog bed warmers like a heat pad. If you have multiple dogs, don’t assume that they’ll sleep together all the time. Each bed should be kitted out with sufficient bedding.
• Outdoor dogs. If you're wondering how to keep a dog warm in winter outside, the main thing is to make sure they have protection from wind and rain. That could be a sheltered spot on a veranda with a dog bed, or a kennel. Kennels should be raised off the ground, and well insulated and sealed to prevent drafts and leaks. Inside the kennel, your dog will need a cosy bed to snuggle into.
  

Should the weather be extremely cold, or stormy, an outside dog will be more comfortable indoors. The same goes for older animals or those that are unwell.

3. Dog coats and other warm dog clothes

While arctic breeds like huskies and many others with thick dense coats will manage most Australian winters with ease, smaller breeds and those with thin coats may benefit from clothing, particularly when outdoors. If you have a breed that’s likely to be more comfortable with warm dog clothes, start accustoming them to wearing jumpers and jackets from when they are puppies. Winter coats and dog puffer jackets can offer protection from both wind and rain when you’re out walking, while jumpers can be used indoors and even overnight when it’s particularly cold.

Dog coats and jackets need to fit snugly, but not tightly around the neck and chest. Be wary of those that have added bling or other embellishments that could irritate or become a choking hazard, and double check any zips to ensure that they won’t rub on your dog’s skin.

Check their paws regularly during winter too. Cold can be very drying, so you need to look out for cracks in their pads. If this is a problem, ask your vet about suitable moisturisers. Dog booties might also be a possible solution, although getting your dog used to wearing them could take some time and patience.

4. Maintain the exercise routine

If your dog is accustomed to regular walks, try to stick to that routine. You might find two short walks rather than one long one keeps you both from getting too chilled!

On really nasty days, a stash of ‘special’ inside toys they don't always get to play with can alleviate boredom, and spending plenty of time with your dog will also help. However, if you’re both getting a bit stir crazy, get yourselves out for a walk, even if it means rugging up. Remember, cold weather can make us all feel a bit stiff. Go gently to start with when you’re heading out, so your dog doesn’t hurt themselves.

5. Keep a close eye on their health

One of the main health issues that can be exacerbated by cold weather is arthritis, which can affect some senior dogs, but also some of the larger breeds at earlier ages. If you notice that your dog isn’t moving as easily, or seems to be in pain, it’s time for a visit to the vet to get them checked.

The vet may prescribe medication. Gentle, consistent exercise can also be very helpful. However, when it is very cold, you have the challenge of balancing the need to mobilise arthritic joints against the added discomfort of the weather. So keep walks short, and try to find more sheltered places where you can be out for a while without copping the worst of the wind.

It’s also important to watch that your dog doesn’t get chilled, particularly after a walk or by being outside in the yard for too long in very cold conditions.

Hypothermia

Hypothermia is a potentially life-threatening condition. Symptoms to look out for include:

• Violent shivering
• Weak pulse
• Lethargy
• Muscle stiffness
• Impaired breathing
• Lack of appetite
  
  

If you notice any of these symptoms, get your dog into a warm room, and wrap them in warmed blankets. You can cover a hot water bottle with a towel and put that against their belly or chest, and offer warm water with honey or sugar. Call your vet, who may tell you to bring your dog into the surgery. Failure to address symptoms of hypothermia can lead to the dog drifting into a coma and/or suffering cardiac arrest, so call your vet as soon as possible.

While the cold weather can make looking after your dog more challenging, remember the thing they enjoy most of all is spending time with you. So keep these winter pet safety tips in mind, and enjoy cold weather snuggles with your furry friend!