Top Five Tips for Taking Care of your Canine Buddy this Winter

Top 5 Tips for Taking Care of your Dog this Winter

Our Tips for Taking Care of Your Dog this Winter

Keep your loved canine pet in their best condition during the big freeze by taking valuable precautions to prioritize your dog’s health. In the cold winter months, it is imperative to best prepare for seasonal changes by adopting hygienic grooming and overall wellbeing habits. Awareness is a priority for keeping your pet dog healthy and happy. Here a few tips for taking care of your dog this winter.

Dress the Part

As you would for a young child, be sure to dress your dog suitably in the winter. Use dog breed appropriate coats with the correct sizing to ensure maximum comfort and movement. A dog winter coat can essential for the cold (depending on their breed) to keep your pet cozy and warm, make sure the material is waterproof and well insulated with a thick lining. Sensitive parts such as the dog’s legs, tail, and ears are most at risk of developing frostbite. 

Provide additional winter accessories if required, such as blankets and sleeping pads for icy nights. For smaller dog breeds, use boots to protect them from the snow on frozen ground as well as from harmful chemicals on ice which otherwise may be licked. Dog winter clothes and accessories are vital to ensure safe winter dog walking.

Be Attentive 

In extreme wet and cold conditions, residue from snow including salt and grit can build up on your dog’s paws. Pay attention to clean carefully in the area between their toes, dry the entire paw, and then moisturize for protection.

Supervision is Key

Make sure your dog is visible at all times as well as trackable when taking your pet for a walk in the times of the day where it becomes dark quickly. Dress yourself and your dog in reflective gear so that you are both clearly observable by pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers in conditions of poor visibility. If possible, keep winter dog walks short and in daylight hours.

As with any time of the year, do not leave your pet in the car for a long period of time to reduce stress and anxiety. Prevention is better than a disaster. Avoid winter dog walking in areas near frozen lakes and rivers, and keep them on a leash when exploring unknown areas.

Antifreeze

Antifreeze can appear sweet and unfortunately, it is somewhat common for dogs to get antifreeze poisoning. Even the smallest of exposure may cause fatal damage to internal organs, through both ingestions and by skin absorption. Wearing dog winter clothes and accessories can help to protect from exposure to hazardous substances.

Like all other poisonous elements and chemicals, keep your dog away from areas where they may have been applied. If you’re a regular user of toxic products like antifreeze, keep the product securely out of reach and clean any spillages immediately to reduce the chances of poisoning. 

Regulate Calories and Hydration

Most importantly, make sure your dog is consuming enough calories for its needs, especially considering the temperature changes. Regulation is important; be careful not to overfeed your pet. Additionally, be sure to balance your dog’s diet with all the necessary vitamins, minerals, and calories needed for optimum health. It is crucial to keep your pet well hydrated with constant access to drinking water. If you’d like to learn more about the healthiest nutrition practices in the winter for your loved pet we recommend this veterinary article.

We hope you found our tips for taking care of your dog this winter valuable and helpful. We’ll be happy if you would like to share your feedback below.

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