Get ready for Winter!

Although we’ve been lucky to get some days of sunshine I think it’s safe to say we’re in for a pretty cold winter!

Just like us, our dogs have a cold tolerance and this can vary between breeds depending on their coat, body fat, activity levels and general health. Be aware of your pet’s tolerance during the cooler months and make sure your keeping an eye on them. Depending on how cool it may be you may need to shorten the length of your walks. If you have an elderly dog or one who suffers from arthritis don’t push their limits and adjust their exercise times as required. For elderly dogs they’re best to have shorter walks spread throughout as long as temperature outside isn’t too low It can be a lot harder for your elderly or arthritic dogs to move around in the colder weather, especially when they first wake up. If possible, sleeping inside would be ideal but if this isn’t an option their outside area must be protected from the elements and for shorter furred dogs a coat would be ideal. Although we like to think our dogs are suited for outside living they are still susceptible to frostbite and hypothermia.

Although it might be raining outside it can be hard to look into those big brown eyes and say no. If the rain is only light it is okay to go for a walk, as long as you and your mate have a coat on they’ll be more than happy to trot along beside you. Keep in mind smaller dogs have shorter legs, meaning their bellies are a lot closer to the ground and more prone to getting wet whilst outside. Jackets and coats are available that can cover the underneath section of your pooch.

Be logical when having your pet outside in the cold. Pets with diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease or hormonal imbalances (ie; Cushing’s disease) can have difficulty regulating their body temperature. This can also be an issue for very young or old pets.

For our shorter coated, older pets inside access (especially of a night time) if ideal but sometimes we can forget our dogs natural body functions. Some breeds of dogs are designed for the cooler weather and we can easily forget this. Breeds such as Huskies, Malamutes, Saint Bernard’s and Pyrenean Mountain Dogs are all working dogs from the snow. These breeds have thick double coats and can easily over heat if we try to over compensate for their natural ability to stay warm. In saying this, no pet should be left outside for long periods of time in the cold.
 If you ever have any concerns about your pets or ability to cope during the cooler weather it’s best to consult your vet.

A common issue, that’s normally more spoken of in summer, is pets being left in cars. Although your dog can keep out of the wind inside a vehicle, if left un attended for a period of time your car can quickly cool down and turn into an ‘ice box’ as such. We all know how cold our cars are of a morning when we first get in and the temperature can drop very quickly even with a doggy inside.

If your exercise routine changes due to the cold weather and your dog gets less exercise make sure you adjust your meal sizes to match. For example, if your pet is high energy who would normally exercise a lot on a daily basis and this becomes less during winter you may need to feed a little less to avoid unhealthy weight gain.

Don’t forget your pooch can help to keep you warm too, nothing beats coming home from a cold day and snuggling on the couch with your furry four legged best friend!