How to take care of your dogs in the winter?

Is your dog still shivering after being inside the house? Maybe your home isn’t warm enough, or your dog gets acute hypothermia. Winter is a wonderful time of year filled with snow, fun holidays, and hot chocolate, but freezing temperatures can make it a difficult time for you as well as your pet. Cold weather affects your dog just like it affects you, and can give terminal illness leading to discomfort. So here are some useful tips you can use to keep your dog warm inside no matter how cold the weather gets outside. When it’s getting cold, you can keep your furry friend warm by following tips.

Quick dog walks

    It is okay to walk your dog in winter. According to American Veterinary Medical Association, walking provides mental stimulation and physical exercise, which can help to burn the excess calories and insulate their body. 

    All canines are not made for winter. Don’t let short-haired dogs out for a long time, as chilly weather can easily affect them. If you see your dog suddenly getting weak, shivering, or lacking in mental alertness, take them inside immediately as they could be the victim of acute hypothermia. So, limit the walk and outdoor playtime based on your pet’s cold-weather tolerance levels, or skip the walk when it’s extremely cold out to keep them safe and warm inside the house. 

    You can play games inside the house to give them enough exercise, play fetch tug-of-war hiding toys, or make them run around inside if possible; ample exercise will warm up their body easily.

Wipe down and massage the paws

    There are salt crystals or de-icing chemicals which can be toxic for your pet if ingested, so always get your dog to wear booties on every walk. Booties are the best option to keep your dog’s paws warm on their walks, as they don’t let the paws directly touch the cold pavement. 

    But, if it refuses to wear, make sure to remove the ice balls and clean the salt crystals and de-icing chemicals lodged between the paws after every walk. Look out for the cuts and cracks on the paw pads and redness between the toes during the cleaning process. Massage paw with soothers petroleum jelly or any other paw protector to keep them in good condition, but beware of sticky paw prints all over the floor.

Dress in layers

    Many thin layers are better than one thick layer of clothes in winter. If your dog is a small breed or has short hair, consider a sweater of either high neck or turtleneck. It must give coverage of the base of the tail to their belly to keep their almost body warm. Puppies and old dogs may need extra help to stay warm when it is chilly outside, so a sweater or coat addition to their winter wear will make their living more comfortable.

Warm-up their bed

    A cozy bed with a warm blanket or pillow is the best thing in winter. Make your pooch’s bed warm by layering it up with a soft warm blanket to snuggle up in it, or you can use pet-friendly electric blankets or heat mats to warm up their beds. 

    If you don’t feel safe using the electric blankets or heating pads, you can either use a blow dryer for a few minutes to pre-warm the bed for them. Or place the heater near their bed, but only for 10 to 15 minutes, don’t forget to switch off and remove it away from their bed as there are high chances of them getting accidentally bumped into the heater. 

    Also, you can make sure the bed stays warm during the night by placing it near your bed or at the warmest place in your home. Clean and change their bed regularly, as the bugs fleas or germs always looking for a warm place to hide.

Fresh water and food

    Always provide fresh water to your dearest dog to keep them well hydrated and lessen the risk of their skin getting dry. Be sure that your dog has constant access to the unfrozen clean water inside and outside the house. Heated bowls can be a great alternative to keep water unfrozen outside. 

    Dogs need to eat well and regularly during the winter months to keep their body warm and energy levels high, but for indoor dogs, there is no need to increase their daily diet unless they live outdoors for a long time. Do talk to your vet about your dog’s particular food needs before you make a decision.

    Before you make a decision, be sure to talk to your veterinarian about your dog’s special food needs.

Do not cut the fur

    The dog’s fur traps the air inside them, which acts as an insulator by warming up their body. That’s why the long-haired dogs developed the double coat in winters to keep them warm in chilly weather, so if you keep your dog outside or your dog loves to stay outside for a long time, then it is highly recommended to keep the longer coat. However, if you think your dog is picking up the ice balls on its hanging fur, you can give a trim to minimize this clingy problem. In addition, trim excess hair between the claws to prevent ice or snowballs from getting between the footpads.

Groom your dog well

     Groom the dog’s hair every day to maintain good condition. Grooming your dog’s fur thoroughly to comb out the knotted hair will help keep your dog insulated. The neglected grooming can make the hair matted and tangled, which exposes the dog’s skin to cold and more chilly moisture, the moisture can irritate the skin and can not keep the snow away.

Bathe your dog less

     Try to skip your dog’s baths in the cold winter, or else, give fewer and shorter baths if necessary. It takes longer for a dog to dry off its long hairy coat in cold weather, so always dry off your dog completely with a towel and a dryer right after the bath before letting it off to wander outside.

    Never bathe your dog in cold water. As at low atmospheric temperatures, the body takes longer to warm up. To bathe your dog, seek the advice of a veterinarian, they can give you the correct information based on your dog breed.

    Use only moisturizing shampoo, or rinse as frequent washing rinse off the essential oils off the skin, increase the chance of dry flaky skin with itchiness, that is how you can keep your dog well warm inside the house by keeping up with our tips. Remember, if it is too cold for you, it will probably be too cold for your pet too, so keep them warm and safe.

    Thank you so much for reading! Please hit the like button and share it with your friends, also don’t forget to subscribe to our channel. Buy winter supplies for your dog, please visit www.meetclaw.com.