Special Care for Dogs in the Winter

This article is written for dog owners who live where winter temperatures drop below freezing. 

Inside Dogs

Most pet dogs are kept inside, going out only for bathroom breaks and walks. So you might not think these dogs require any special winter care, but they do. Houses are typically cooler in the winter, so a small dog who is kept clipped, might require a dog sweater when in the house. The winter air tends to be drier in many places. Your dog will be affected by this, and may experience more dander problems. Dander problems may be helped by more grooming or better food, (one with no filler such as by-products). Your dog may experience respiratory problems, always seek professional veterinary care when your dog shows signs of a problem.

Sometimes people are surprised when their dog starts shedding at the beginning of winter. This, however, is typical for many dog breeds, you can either spend many days vigorously brushing the loose hair out, or take the dog to a groomer to have them “blow out” the coat. At this time you should have the dog groomer trim the straggly hairs on the dogs' tummy, legs, and tail. These hairs tend to catch snow which may form balls that will pull on the dogs' skin.

You might normally leave your dog outside if you go shopping, but in cold weather this might not be a good idea, if you run into car troubles or are delayed your dog might be outside too long.

Outside Dogs

A dog who spends most, or all, of his time outside certainly needs a warm dog house. The dog house should be large enough for the dog to stand up and turn around in, but not much larger than that. Too big of a house will lose too much heat. The door way needs to be just big enough for the dog to enter and exit. The dog house should have an insulated bottom and be raised off the ground, so that snow does not blow into it. The sides and top should be insulated as well. You should put straw or blankets down as bedding. Wooden dog houses are warmer than plastic ones, but wood cannot be properly disinfected. In extremely cold areas you can have a 25 or 40 watt light bulb inside from the ceiling, to help keep the dog house warm, making sure it is protected behind a wire cage, and that all wiring is safe for outdoor use in cold weather. An alternative to a dog house would be access to the garage, with a bed for the dog, and all chemicals out of the dogs reach, as some chemicals can be toxic to dogs.

An outside should be given extra food, or higher protein food. Make sure you have a water bowl so the dog can get fresh water rather than eating snow. This is the one time where a plastic bowl is okay, as a cold steel one can stick to a wet tongue. There are some excellent electric water bowls, or for the environmentally concerned dog owner, you might try to find a solar powered one. If you do not have a heated water bowl, try to make sure the dog gets fresh, warm water, at least three times a day.

Be aware dogs with thin or upright ears, may be more prone to frost bite. Puppies sometimes have such a good time playing they forget it is cold out, you need to monitor your pets time outside. 

On walks

Even in the winter, a dog requires regular walks. As an owner you must be prepared for this. When temperatures are extreme you should shorten the distance or play in the backyard instead, but make sure you do provide exercise. You will find many dogs love trying to catch soft snowballs, or plowing around in the snow. To get a a dog to enjoy the winter outdoors, an owner simply has to be willing to go outside and play when the dog is young. It is all to easy to be lazy and put the dog out... let it pee... then let it in. Remember playtime is important as it provides mental stimulation. This will be especially true of the higher intelligence breeds like Border Collies or Jack Russell Terriers.

Bigger, hairy, dogs are less likely to be affected by the snow and cold. Smaller dogs may require a winter jacket or sweater, and booties. Some big dogs though, are really affected by the cold, there is nothing wrong with putting a doggie coat on them. In wetter winter climates make sure the material is water repellent.

The cold sidewalk, road, or ice, can be really hard on the pads of your dogs feet. For this reason dog boots are good for anyone who takes their dogs for lots of walks or outdoor play time. Not only will boots help keep your dogs paws protected from the cold, but save them from painful ice balls building up. Try to select boots that have sturdy bottoms so they last longer. Do not leave boots on an unsupervised dog, they might try to get them off without your help.

You can buy Zinc lotion, for babies, to use on your dogs paws, either before or after a walk when you do not have boots. Before the walk it will help protect the pads, and after it will soothe them.

Older dogs

Older dogs may have arthritis and may be in considerable pain in the winter. They do not need as many walks as a younger dog, so you should just keep them comfortable and stick to doing what they want to do, making sure they do not over exert themselves. There are several good, heated, mats for older dogs to help with their pains related to aging and cold weather. As well it is recommended that you provide a food that contains glucosamine/chondrotin. An old dog should be kept indoors or at least in a warm garage, with a bed.

All Dogs

 Remember all dogs are pack animals, they naturally want to be with us.  If your dog is normally an outside dog, and prefers to live outdoors, that is fine, but make sure you check on it frequently rather than just assume it is okay.  Feel it for signs of being underweight, which is going to make things very hard on an outdoor pet. 

This pup looks like he loves winter!  Photo from Wikimedia