Winter Dog Care Tips to Keep Your Pup Healthy
Whether you have a furry pooch or a hairless one, these winter dog care tips will help you keep your dog safe and happy throughout the cold season.
What does your dog think of the winter? Some pooches, such as Labrador Retrievers, Siberian Huskies, and Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs, thrive in the winter months. Other dogs are not so fond of winter and may stick up their noses to the snowy, cold weather. However your dog feels about the winter, there’s a lot we owners can do to help them stay safe and healthy as the temperatures drop. Even if you have a snow dog, there are certain risks and hazards that come with winter weather that you can prepare your pup for.
Disclaimer: We are an Amazon Associate and may earn commision - at no extra expense to you - through referral links. We only recommend products we use or that come highly rated. See our Disclosure for more details.
Tips For Winter Dog Care
There is a common misconception that due to the copious amount of fur, dogs can simply tolerate the cold better than humans. However, this isn’t always true, and these winter dog care tips will help your pup stay safe and healthy. Just like us humans, our fur-coated friends spend a lot of time indoors and savor the warmth of shelter, making cold temperatures difficult. Also, there are certain hazards that all dogs face in the winter - from deicing chemicals on the ground to falling through the ice.
Whether or not where you live has snow, the winter months bring consistent rainfall, freezing temperatures, and strong winds, that can cause the following health concerns for dogs:
Hypothermia
Frostbite
Injured paws
Disease contraction
To protect your pup, try the following winter dog care tips:
Bundle Up
Dogs with thin fur, older dogs, puppies, small dogs, and pups with medical conditions are more affected by the cold. If your dog falls into one of these groups, your pup should get bundled up in a dog coat before hitting the cold. A well-fitted coat should reach from the neck to the base of the tail and cover the belly.
Protect Their Paws
In the winter months, there tend to be more deicers and salt on the ground, which can not only hurt dogs’ paws but some contain harmful chemicals that can put your dog at risk when they lick their paws. Dog booties will keep your pup’s paws safe and warm. If your dog flat out refuses to wear booties (like ours!), try coating their paws with Musher’s Secret Dog Paw Wax, which works really well at protecting the paws from snow, ice, salt, and chemicals. Be sure to wipe your pup’s paws down carefully after time outside. Plus, if you have a long-haired dog, be mindful of ice balls that can form between the dog's pads and toes, so ensure they’re always well-trimmed.
Adjust Your Dog’s Diet Accordingly
While some dogs will spend hours frolicking in the snow and going for walks, others will rest more in the winter and just go outside for the bathroom or a short walk. Depending, you may need to adjust their food intake to be in line with their energy expelled. Be sure to speak to your vet if you are unsure! If your dog prefers to stay indoors, consider new toys and activities they can do inside to keep them moving and their brain challenged.
Be Careful With Off-Leash Time
An essential part of winter dog care is protecting your pup from hazardous outdoor conditions. To be safe, be mindful of where you allow your dog to go off-leash, if at all, in winter. Some bodies of water or even puddles can appear frozen, but not be. There are also tree wells to be cautious of.
Consider Fewer Baths
Moisture and baths will dry out a dog's skin, which isn’t necessarily a serious problem, but it can cause your dog itchiness and discomfort. It's best to only have a few baths a week and use a shampoo with additional moisturizer for your winter dog care grooming routine.
Invest in Warm Bedding
Your dog won't like sleeping on the floor when it’s freezing, especially if the flooring is tiles, wood, or concrete. To help your dog feel cozy and loved, invest in a nice, raised bed and keep it in a warm area. You may even insulate the dog bed with heated blankets and pillows to increase comfort and warmth.
Groom Your Dog Regularly
Grooming is an important part of winter dog care. For your dog’s coat to be properly insulated (and for no snowballs to grow on the fur) it's important to stay on top of your dog's grooming, and ensure their fur is a good length.
Age of Your Dog Matters
Not unlike humans, age will impact how your dog deals with the cold. Very young puppies and senior dogs struggle to regulate their temperature and are more likely than middle-aged dogs to have a serious reaction to any dips in the temperature. It is best to keep dogs of this age inside and only venture outside when necessary on frigid days. Moreover, the cold can really impact dogs with existing medical conditions, such as arthritis. While these dogs need to maintain an exercise routine, it's important to be careful around any slippery surfaces. Make sure that your dog has a warm area to rest after any activity. It may be a good idea to offer your senior dog a natural joint supplement to lubricate the joints and ease the discomfort of arthritis, especially in the winter months.
How Can I Protect My Dog From Hypothermia?
To prevent the risk for hypothermia in dogs, always keep your pup dry and warm—and know the signs of hypothermia, which are:
Shivering: Lengthy shivering means your dog is cold and needs to find warmth, and soon. Should your dog be curled up while continuously shivering, this could be a sign they require hypothermia treatment.
Cold fur and skin: if your dog's fur and skin are cold to the touch, it could be due to hypothermia.
Dilated pupils
Lowered body temperature
Pale-coloured gums or eyelids
If your dog is displaying symptoms of hypothermia, get your dog inside a warm place and wrapped in blankets and seek veterinary assistance.
Is my Dog Likely to Catch a Disease in the Winter?
If you live somewhere with excessive rainfall during the winter, that means puddles for your pup to splash in and mud for them to roll in! While this can be a ton of fun for the dog, (and a mess for the owners), it can also be a source of diseases.
Some of this standing water is contaminated with fecal matter from diseased animals, such as raccoons, foxes, or other animals which can be very risky, and lead to serious infections like Leptospirosis or canine parvovirus. To prevent this, be mindful of the following for your winter dog care routine:
Keep your dog’s vaccinations up to date
Avoid standing water
Don’t allow your dog to drink from puddles and always bring fresh water while on walks
Wash and dry muddy and wet dogs after exposure
Antifreeze is another winter worry! As small as a teaspoon of antifreeze can cause kidney failure for your dog, so keep your pup away from antifreeze and be aware of the signs of ingesting antifreeze:
Drooling
Vomiting
Seizures
Excessive thirst
Panting
Lethargy
Drunken appearance
If you believe your dog has had any antifreeze, get them to a vet or emergency vet as soon as possible.
Enjoying the Winter with Your Pup
The winter weather brings up new challenges for dog owners, but with some winter dog care practices, you can keep your pup happy and safe. It’s important to keep a close eye on your furry bestie and monitor their well-being through the cold months, so you can make the most of what the winter has to offer.
