Looking after your dog in the Winter
Unfortunately, like in the Summer, there are many hazards to dogs in the winter and just like humans, dogs can be affected by the cold winter months too.
Dog walking
While dogs still need regular walking you should consider walking them for less amount of time if it is freezing cold, and consider a winter dog coat, especially for short haired breeds! A lot of pet shops sell them, measure your dog from the base of their neck to the base of their tail - you may have to get a specific designed one for your some breeds like dachshunds, bassets, greyhounds and whippets due to their different body shapes. You should also make sure that your dog is visible on dark nights, you could opt for a Hi-Viz coat or a led collar/led collar light. Its also important that your dog has good recall when off the lead, if walking at night or in foggy/snowy conditions so that they do not get lost. Make sure their microchip and tag details are up to date.
You should also dry them off after walks and ensure they kept in a draught free area to warm up, dogs can suffer from frost bite and hypothermia too!
You should also be wary of frozen lakes and rivers, as there is no way of telling how sturdy it will be!
Paw, skin and health care
After walks its best to wash your dogs paws thoroughly and dry them to avoid salt/grit/mud/snow getting stuck in the pads, sometimes this can lead to soreness, cracking, redness and matting which can be very uncomfortable. You can get your long haired dogs feet trimmed by a groomer to make this easier to keep on top of. Paw wax is really good for added protection during the winter months as they help protect your dogs paws from the salt and grit on the paths, as well as preventing the pads from cracking due to the harsh weather. Salt found in road grit can contain harmful chemicals and if licked in large enough amounts, can be harmful to your dogs. The winter weather can also cause dry, flaky skin, you should think about adding a skin & coat supplement, such as salmon oil or coconut oil, you can also add coconut oil topically if they are suffering badly from dry/cracked skin as its a really good moisturizer.
You should ensure that your dog is well groomed, matted dogs cannot regulate their body temperatures as well as, a well brushed dog. Therefore, getting the coat to a more manageable length for you is advisable. This will help you keep them knot free, warm and dry. Most breeds, but double coated breeds, in particular, develop thick coats for the winter to protect them from the weather, however, it will not work properly to insulate them if they are knotty.
Dogs with arthritis tend to suffer more in the winter when the temperatures are colder, especially in the mornings before they have warmed up! If your dog seems to be in pain, talk to your vet.
Anti-freeze and dogs
Be mindful of ANTIFREEZE, its really toxic to dogs (& cats!) and can cause kidney problems and death. The sweet smell and taste is irresistible to dogs, so if you see any liquids by cars, keep your dogs away from them. If you suspect that they have walked in it, be sure to wash their paws thoroughly and if you think they have licked some, take them to your vet immediately.
Too cold to go outside?
Some dogs hate the cold, just like us humans! If they are reluctant to go outside, then make sure you are keeping them active indoors instead; you can play enrichment/brain games with them to help tire them out mentally, which will also help deter from unwanted behaviours as well. Of course, if your dog is doing less exercise, its important to ensure that you aren’t feeding them the same as you usually would to prevent them becoming overweight.
