I know I haven’t posted in awhile…the Holiday season is an extremely BUSY time for me… but as I was getting ready for work this morning, I saw Ann Curry on the TODAY show talk about the ways to keep your dog warm during the cold winter months and I thought I MUST post about this topic. So here goes:
Many people think that because a dog has fur that there is no need to be protected from the winter elements. Cold weather, snow, rain and sleet can be damaging to dog’s skin, coat and health. Small dogs, short haired breeds, as well as puppies and older sick dogs need extra protection. Below are 4 steps to follow for dressing a dog for winter:
1. Guard against paw injury by using paw protectors ( PAWZ) or dog boots when walking your dog in the winter. The salt and sand is highly abrasive and can be damaging to a dog’s paws.
2.Outfit the dog in a waterproof/rain coat during winter rain, hail, or snow storms. Especially during harsh storms a dog’s coat and skin can be cut or damaged.
3. Dress the dog in a warm, soft sweater for everyday outdoor activities. The sweater will raise their body tempature and keep them warm. Many small breeds do not have the necessary natural insulation for cold weather protection.
4.Use an insulated dog coat for long exposure to cold conditions. They are specially designed to fit around the chest and stomach area to keep the vital organs warm and protected. Short haired breeds…BIG OR SMALL… like Boxers, Great Danes, Chihuahua’s..etc. are especially susceptible to the cold as are puppies and senior dogs.
Stay warm everyone!!