Winter Blues

Cold Feet?

It’s safe to say, if the temperature outside is too cold for you its most likely too cold for your pet. Breeds like Huskies, Samoyeds, and Newfoundlands have thick coats to protect them from frigid conditions but breeds with thin coats are not designed to live in the cold and so their bodies cannot bear it for extended periods of time. It can be damaging to their paws, skin, health, and overall well-being.

So what do you do to protect your pup? Investing in a coat, sweater, or jacket for your pet is a great way to make up for their lack of thick fur. Pet stores offer a variety of options but you can, of course, find even more customized coats and sweaters for specific breeds online (such as Etsy). To find the proper fit for your friend, you will need at least two important measurements. 1. Nape of the neck to the base of the tail to determine length of coat 2. Measure the largest part of the chest, directly behind the front legs.

Booties are a positive investment as well, helping to protect their paw pads from snow, ice, and salt. There are many different kinds of booties, so you will have to find out what works best for you pet!

Has the snow and ice already gotten to your pets paws? Regularly check the pads of your pups’ feet as they can become dry and cracked from the weather. This can be painful and irritating to your pet so it’s important to take care of! Paw balm is a great way to relieve the dryness and heal the pads. There are many different kinds of paw balm/wax, or you can easily make your own.  

It is important not to expose your pet to temperatures under 32 degrees for prolonged amounts of time. Dogs with thicker coats as mentioned earlier will most likely be able to stand these temperatures longer, but it is safe to keep the exposure (especially dogs with thin coats, older dogs,  under 10 to 15 minutes. As there is no definitive temperature regarded as too cold, you will need to know what is comfortable for you particular dog. You must take into consideration their age, body type, and overall health when determining the amount of time spent outdoors in the winter. If you notice your pup shivering, whining, acting anxious, or holding one paw up – it’s time to go back inside!

Our pups can tell us so much, we just need to speak their language!😊