Winter Weather Safety Tips to Keep Your Dogs Healthy and Comfortable

Before leaving your dogs outside for any length of time in cold or wet weather, find out just how cold it really is, and take into consideration the wind chill factor.

A doghouse might be effective to have but, at the same time may not give the protection to your dogs from frostbite around his or her extremities. Be sure to bring your dog inside, away from the cold. Lay down a welcoming warm blanket just for them to get comfortable and sleep on, since flooring might be cold. You may also consider buying raised dog beds for them. These will keep them elevated from the cold and damp flooring.

A particular misconception has long been that snow is a substitute for good clean drinking water. Be sure that your dog constantly has fresh drinking water, no matter what the particular weather environment might be.

Your dog’s fur can offer a measure of warmth them, however, long fur tends to pick up clumps of snow and ice, rendering it miserable to these guys. Trim the fur that is surrounding the paws to save some of this from happening. Dogs that have shorter hair do not get the equal degree of warmth as most dogs with a longer and fuller coat of fur. You can purchase doggie sweaters for these little guys to add an extra layer to keep them warm. They could keep your small dog snug and additionally make them look all the more cute.

A great number of towns and cities salt icy streets and sidewalks to offer traction. This kind of salt or deicer may be hurtful to dogs when it gets into cracks in their paw pads. Simply by rubbing a thin film of petroleum jelly to the underlying part of the paws will lessen the amount of salt which sticks to them. If you have taken them for a walk, once back home you should definitely clean their paws and pads thoroughly so that they will be able to walk comfortably.

Damp and wet fur can also be uncomfortable for your dogs. Be sure to dry them off when returning from a walk in stormy or snowy conditions. If at all possible, and if they allow it, use a hand held hair dryer. The cold of wintry weather can be as risky to a dog’s health the same as the high humidity and heat of summer months.

Apply these tips and common sense and your dogs will stay healthy and comfortable in the cold days of winter.