Dog Care
Taking my inspiration for this blog from Eukanuba Discover Dogs event, I’ve written a blog about potential health risks and caring for your dog through winter. Eukanuba is holding an event in London this year where hundreds of breeds of dogs will be attending, the 2016 Crufts winner amongst many other amazing activities. The event is being held at the ExCeL Arena in London on the 22ndand 23rd of October 2016 from 9 am until 5 pm. 
Be Careful
It’s that time of the year again where the elements have shifted and the weather is unpredictable as ever. So throughout this time of the year, it’s important to think about the safety of your dog. A lot of dog owners think that their pet’s fur coat will protect them from the elements. This is true to a certain extent, but most dogs like being warm indoors and the weather upon impacts them the same as it does us. Note these tips and advice below so you can adapt and give your dog a warm winter.
Watch out for these
Frostbite – Not a lot of people think that dogs can suffer from frostbite and they’d be extremely wrong. It starts when the dog’s body gets cold and the body starts pulling blood from other areas of the body to keep its core warm. The loose body parts such as tail, ears and paws can get so cold ice crystals form inside them. It isn’t always obvious and one of the best ways to try and tell is looking for pale or grey skin. The skin may become hard and cold and in severe cases, the body part can be infected, will turn black and eventually drop off.
Hypothermia – Hypothermia can be a big cause of concern for you and your four-legged friend. It usually happens when a dog spends too much time out in the cold and gets wet. Dogs that are elderly, have poor circulation, or are ill may be very vulnerable. In the lesser cases, your dog might shiver and its ears or paws may become cold. As it gets worse your dog might go through a depressive phase followed by weakness. After this, your pet’s muscles will stiffen and your friend will stop responding to you. Hypothermia is a serious issue and something you want to prevent your pet from suffering.
If you take your dog out in the cold and he stops playing, starts whining or looks for a place to dig and burrow, it’s time to bring your dog indoors.
Out in the Weather
Although it is true that some breeds of dog have naturally long, thick fur which will keep them warm. There are also a lot of breeds with short fur, these breeds of dog may need a jumper or some form of coat when being walked. Ideally, it would reach from the neck to the tail, covering the stomach area too. You must remember that their ears, paws and tail will not be covered. So if you do take a short haired dog out, don’t go out too long if it’s really cold.
If you can tell your dog doesn’t like going out in temperatures that cold, try to take them out earlier in the day. Mid-afternoon is a good time when it’s a bit warmer. You can try taking them outside to play with them and their toys when we do get that little bit of sun. You will find that by playing with your dog out in the garden for a few hours, he’s too tired to go for a walk.
General Care
It is no surprise that your dog will still want to munch away throughout the cold seasons, some
times more than normal. You should pay extra attention to your dog’s activity levels throughout this time of the year. The reason you want to do this is that as the temperature drops, your pet burns more calories trying to stay warm. If they spend a lot of hours during the day active, that’s more calories used to keep warm. You could try feeding them one extra portion to balance it out. However, you don’t want to overfeed your dog; and if they spend a lot of hours indoors the chances are they aren’t going to be losing many calories. Pay extra attention to your dog’s behaviour and adjust its meals accordingly.
Just because your dog has been eating pound upon pound of snow doesn’t mean he is going to be hydrated. Just like the rest of the year, make sure there is always clean, fresh water for your dog to drink. If you leave the bowl outside when the dogs playing, check his bowl often and break up any ice that may be there.
Indoor Pets
Our pets like to live inside with us where it’s warm, cosy and they have a nice soft bed. We can’t blame them. Dogs that live the happiest get taken outside frequently for exercise and walks, then live inside where it’s nice and warm. So try not to leave your pets outside alone when the cold temperatures arrive. Take them outside when they need to go, and when you’re ready to come in, bring your dog with you.
Everybody loves a warm bed. This is no different for your pet. Do not allow your pet to sleep on a non-carpeted or tiled area through the winter because these surfaces don’t hold heat and will become very cold. You can try heat mats, blankets and beds to keep your pet warm. Keep it in a familiar spot for your dog, preferably away from drafts.
A risk for dogs is that they will go and look for warm areas to sleep in. Radiators and fireplaces do pose a big risk. If they lay by them too long they may end up getting burnt. Try to put radiator covers on and make sure they can’t get too close to heat sources.
A quick tip is to try to keep your pet’s skin nice and moisturised throughout the winter. As it gets colder your pet’s skin might start cracking and can become sore, especially foot pads and between claws. You should either add a supplement to their food or apply a moisturiser directly to the skin.
Watching Your Dog
Being a dog owner myself, I know that they take up a lot of our time. However, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Through the winter extra care must be exercised. I can’t stress it enough. With antifreeze and grit being used like it’s going out of fashion, your dog is at risk a lot of the time. Dog’s think antifreeze tastes nice and they will try to drink it. It only takes a small amount to cause harm to your beloved pet. But it also only takes a small amount of concentration to prevent your dog drinking it. Be careful at all times.
Leaving your dog in the car is never a good idea. Just as your dog can get too hot during summer, he can get too cold during winter. If you need to pop out anywhere just leave your dog at home. It isn’t worth risking your dog’s health for a loaf of bread, you know what I mean?
Grooming
Your dog must have a clean, well-groomed coat to provide maximum insulation. Bathe your d
og regularly and be sure to dry and brush their fur thoroughly.
If your dog gets fur growing between his toes trim the fur before walking your pet. This is because they may get grit, snow or ice build-up there. Each of them poses their own risks so be sure to trim the fur. After taking your dog for a walk, make sure you wipe of their paws. If they’ve walked through grit it may burn their feet and the last thing you want them doing is licking it off. Be sure to keep their nails clipped too.
Thank you for reading my blog, I hope the tips really help point you in the right direction and raise awareness towards the safety of your family pet.
