As the temperature drops and winter draws nearer, many dogs feel the cold as much as their owners do. Keeping your dog warm through the winter months is important to maintaining top health, and with these helpful hints, your dog will be cozy all throughout the season.
A thick winter coat is a dog's insulation; it aids in keeping them warm. Dogs that don't share this characteristic and are more susceptible to the winter chill include dobermans, toy dogs, low hair or hairless dogs, and greyhounds. Any shaven or clipped dog will also fall into this category. Elderly dogs will feel the cold even more than young spritely dogs. You may find your elderly dog slowing down in the morning or down right refusing to get out of bed, see our page Caring For Elderly Dogs In Winter.
Housing
Ideally, keeping your dog mostly indoors throughout winter would be best. Only taking them outside for exercise or to the toilet.
If your dog is kept outside, ensure that he/she has access to a kennel with warm bedding. Look for a kennel that has protection at the entrance for those rainy seasons like this
flat roof kennel that comes with detachable door flaps.
If the weather is exceptionally cold, do bring your dog indoors where it is warm. Check out our range of
Kennels
Bedding
Ensure that the bedding is warm and well placed. Bedding is an important part of keeping a dog warm through winter. If your dog sleeps on the ground or somewhere with drafts, consider buying a
Trampoline Dog Bed. These beds also come with an option to have a soft pillow top included. A custom-made bed with cushioned insert, blankets, and old clothing make good, warm bedding.
Here is our range of warm and cuddly
Dog Beds
Dog Clothing
Canine clothing can help to keep your dog warm through winter, especially for small or toy dogs, dogs without long hair, and old or sick dogs. One of the key signs of a cold dog is shivering, just like humans. Dog jackets, and sweaters can be purchased for any sized dog
Here.
Grooming
Groom your dog with it's best interest at heart. Avoid trimming, shaving or cutting your dog's hair because a dog's full weight coat is his/her source of warmth during winter. It is important to maintain a good grooming regime all year round as well as through winter, as matted hair does not insulate the dog as well. Only bathe indoors with warm water and dry your dog as quickly as possible. It is important to make sure your dog is completely dry before letting him/her outside.
Health
Guard against canine winter illnesses. As with humans, dogs can fall ill during the colder months especially when cold or as a result of winter conditions, with respiratory infections in damp climates being some of the principal concern.
Keep your dog dry and warm. This will help to guard against respiratory infections, such as kennel cough (the human equivalent of a cold). If your dog does get a respiratory infection, contact your vet immediately.
The cold weather can also exacerbate your dog's arthritis and/or osteoarthritis. You can talk to your vet about medication, treatment options and ways to keep your arthritic dog fit and warm through winter.
Exercise
You should still be giving your dog adequate exercise, as exercise needs to not decrease for mammals during cool seasons. You may want to simply change the time of your walk. Early morning/evening may be too cold for you and your dog so perhaps walks should be mid morning/early afternoon instead.
Play indoor games with your dog if it is too cold to get out. There is a wide variety of
dog toys available to keep your pooch entertained and exercised indoors.
