8 Winter Tips to Keep Your Dog Healthy and Active

Keep your dog healthy and active during the cold months!

Here in South Carolina, we haven’t seen the temperature drop too much yet.  In fact, we’ve been putting up Christmas decorations in 70-80 degree weather!  But, that doesn’t mean the cold weather isn’t coming.  So, take a few minutes to check out some winter dog health tips to prepare for and be aware of as we enter our colder months in January and February.

Cold-weather concerns

1. Hypothermia: As the temperatures drop, we all need to remember our furry friends need to stay warm too!  Dogs are at risk of getting hypothermia just like people, and their paws can get cold just like your feet.  So take a minute to think about your dog’s health as the snow comes down (OK we snow is hit or miss in SC, but the temperatures can still be hazardous to your dog’s health)! Hypothermia (in case you need a reminder) occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can replace it, causing core temperature to drop below the normal range.  For a dog, the normal core body temperature ranges from 100 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit.  It can be classified as mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the body’s temperature. *If your dog is not removed from the cold and warmed, eventually the organs will begin to fail*
   • Symptoms include:
     • Shivering
     • Muscle stiffness
     • Decreased respiratory rate
     • Mental dullness
     • Cardiac arrhythmias (variations from the normal rate or rhythm of the heart)
   • Risk factors:
     • Age: puppies younger than 1 month old and senior dogs are more susceptible
     • Body type: Very lean, thin dogs with little insulating body fat have a higher risk (think Greyhounds and Whippets)
     • Illness: these can include upper respiratory infections, allergies, and stomach upset and/or diarrhea
     • Endocrine abnormalities: hypothyroidism or Addison’s disease are examples.
     • Cardiovascular disease
     • Prolongs exposure to anesthesia
   • Diagnosis: Veterinarians use a rectal thermometer to determine the body’s temperature
   • Treatment:  For mild cases, owners can treat it with passive rewarming (removing the dog from the cold and place it in a warm environment).  For moderate to severe cases, medical attention is needed to actively warm the dog.  Several methods can be used, including: warm water pads, warm air blowers, warm oxygen cage, or warm IV fluids.
   • So how do you as an owner prevent it? Never leave a dog outside in the cold!  Use dog coats, sweaters, sweatshirts, etc. to protect short-coated breeds from the cold temperatures when you are walking them.
2. Paw Care:  Snow and sidewalk deicers can mean trouble for dog paws.  Here are some tips for helping to keep your dog’s feet healthy throughout the season:
   • Beware of deicers sprinkled on sidewalks and parking lots.  They can irritate paws, making them sore, and can be toxic to a dog’s system if they lick it off.  Keep a towel handy with you on walks to wipe irritants off their paws, and keep your dog from licking the snow you track inside on your boots.
   • Trim the hair between your dog’s toes to keep ice balls from forming there.  To help repel snow and water, massage a tiny bit of petroleum jelly or olive oil between toes and on paw pads before you head out.
   • Rinse and dry your dog’s paws when you come in from your walk. While you’re there, check for chapping and cuts.  You can treat cuts by cleaning them with warm water and mild soap, rinsing well afterwards.  Moisturize with olive oil when you’re done.
   • Use booties if your dog will tolerate them. Even if we don’t have ice or snow, the cold temperature can make your dog uncomfortable.   Once the ice (and possible snow) do come – the booties will provide extra traction for your dog so they don’t slip.  Not a bootie fan? There are removable paw pad protectors available that can provide cushion and traction, then you simply take them off after the walk.
3. Respiratory Issues:  If your dog already has respiratory issues like chronic coughs or bronchitis, add a humidifier to their area to keep the air more moist.
4. Icy ponds/lakes/rivers:  Depending on how deep the closest body of water is, it may not even get close to icing over.  If, however, you see ice forming on a pond or lake – please don’t let them walk on it unless it has been cleared for skating (not a common occurrence in SC).  Just because they weigh less than a human doesn’t mean they can’t fall through.

Exercise  – Keep them moving!

Nobody wants to gain weight over the winter – but adding on extra pounds to your dog can be bad for their health, too.  Keep them warm with movement even if the temps are cold:

1. Walking: Keep them on a shorter leash so you have more control – especially if they slip and fall on icy patches
2. Fetch: Regular fetch is fine for most dogs to get some energy out.  If we happen to get some snow – try snowball fetch for a fun twist!
3. Kibble Snow-cones:  If we are lucky to get enough snow to stick, make a snowball with a few pieces of kibble in it and put it in their dog bowl.  What a fun new treat!
4. K9 Obstacle Course: Is your dog into agility or obstacle courses?  Try to convert a room in your home into a mini-course, or hide an object for your dog to “hunt”.  Be creative and have fun!

We hope these winter dog health tips help you keep your dog healthy this winter, but also provide some fun outlets for energy 🙂

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