Winter Safety and Your Dog

Winter! It's a time for skiing, snowballs, sledding and snow Angels. The white stuff has to be shoveled, blown, and salted. Frozen roadways are like driving on an ice skating rink even with studded tires. To stay warm, bundle up and dress in layers the cold weather veterans advise and please, please remember your pooch. Wherever you live, be it Idaho, Canada, Seattle, Florida or the deserts of California, your dog needs special care in colder weather.

For extremely cold climates like Montana, Alaska, Calgary & Colorado, if you leave your dog outside, be certain they are a type of breed that can withstand colder temperatures. Dogs such as the Husky, Samoyed, New Foundland, Cheasapeake Bay And Labrador Retrievers do o.k. These breeds have the extra undercoat to help keep them warm. A Dachshund or Jack Russell can get cold just going out to take care of business.

Most dogs still need paw booties & maybe a coat when it's really cold (at and below freezing). Even the dogs that run the "Iditarod" or the "Yukon Quest" wear booties for paw protection. If paw pads freeze, your baby could lose a limb.

For dogs who are able to handle cold weather, get them a dog house anyway. Imagine what it would be like if you were left outside in cold weather with only a jacket. It would be fine for a little while, but then a chill sets in.

Put A bale of straw in the dog house. They cost about $5-10. An incredibly cheap way to keep your canine warmer in their house. The straw also absorbs moisture where blankets just get damp & cold. Put the dog house on a pallet to raise it slightly off the ground. Often you can get these for free from grocery or department stores. Be sure the dog house is sturdy and safe on the pallet.

A bigger dog house isn't better. Your dog only needs to be able to stand up & turn around in their house. If their house is too big, the heat generated will simply float away and your dog will be cold.

Many dogs, if left outside, even with a hay filled house, will need a dog coat. There are many dog coat styles & thicknesses to choose from in order to keep your canine family member safe from hypothermia. Dog hypothermia happens. If a dog is left outdoors in freezing temperatures, even with a coat, booties & a hay filled house, it's possible. Your dog depends on you for their safety & well being.

The following is a list of hypothermia symptoms and emergency care tips:

*Ice on their body and/or limbs.
*Shivering.
*Extremities like ears, toes, & limbs are a bright red color along with a paleness to black (the black color means tissue death and it's serious).
*Unconsciousness.

To treat dog hypothermia, first call your Veterinarian or Animal Emergency Center and follow their advice.

Next, do the following: (please read all the instructions before doing anything)

*Warm the affected area(s) rapidly with warm (not hot) water. Use warm wet towels or warmed ice packs.

*If the affected area is a limb or paw that's frozen, soak it in a bowl or pot of warm water.

*Do not rub the area to get blood circulation going.

*Don't immerse your dog in a warm bath tub. This will only cause body temperature to decrease and defeats the purpose.

*Once your dog's tissues are warmed up, wrap your dog in a warm, lint free blanket to ward off the remaining chill and help prevent shock (put the blanket in the dryer for a few minutes).

*Get to a Veterinarian's office immediately. Your canine family members needs to be examined. Secondary infections can occur after frostbite. Get your dog checked out.

Be aware of the temperature and whether it's safe for your dog to be outside. If it's going to be really cold (below freezing) bring your dog inside. Get a kennel for the house if you have too. It'll make you a hero!

Winter Safety and Your Dog