Abbey Veterinary Centre advises on keeping dogs safe in winter

Keeping your dogs safe in winter weather

4th December 2023

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It sure have been cold these past few days, here are some helpful tips on how to care for your dog, and keep them safe in this winter.

DOGS

Care with the Ice and snow! I know it’s so tempting to throw a snowball for your dog, but this can be dangerous. Running about in the ice and snow can lead to some nasty injuries, twisting, turning and slipping about can lead to knee, hip and back injuries. So it’s best to keep high intensity games for another day! Maybe a more gentle “sniff” walk is appropriate in this weather. Or you could always leave the walk for another day and play some indoor games instead.

Stay well away from frozen lakes and ponds, if they usually do dive into the water just make sure you keep them on a lead while walking past it.

Grit and salt can irritate paws! It’s always a good idea to wash your dogs feet off with some warm water after a walk. If you have a dog that has fluffy feet, you could always groom and trim the fur off, this will help prevent ice balls from forming. If your dog is really struggling with cold and sensitive paws then you could always think about introducing boots for them to walk in. Just start with them wearing socks on their feet inside the home first, then build up to the boots from there, just make sure it’s always a positive experience.

Keep them warm! Especially the oldies! Make sure their bed isn’t positioned in, or near a draft. If they are in a crate maybe a blanket over the top of the crate would be helpful. Dogs do feel the cold! So extra cosy blankets and a raised bed that’s up off the floor can help, if your pet is still feeling the cold you can always put a jumper on them to help keep them warm.

Do they need a coat? This is a good question, there are definitely some breeds of dog that would benefit from an extra layer to help them keep warm, as well as younger and older doggies, who can’t regulate their body temperature as well as a fit and healthy dog.

High Visibility Jackets, for dogs and humans. Make sure you are seen at night! There are also a range of flashing collars for dogs, and these are a great idea too. Be safe, be seen!

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