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Winter Safety Tips For Your Dog
Winter is coming.
It’s that time of year. The trees are changing color. Temperatures are dropping in various regions of the United States. That means winter is close and the last thing you want to do is be unprepared not just when it comes to your winter safety, but also your pup’s safety.
Some dog breeds are capable of handling the winter cold, but not all. Even the dog breeds that can shake off the winter season need some sort of preparation and protection in ways outside of keeping them warm.
In this blog post, we’ve curated some of the most important winter safety tips to consider when preparing your dog (of any breed) for this chilly winter season.
Winter Safety Tips For Your Dog
Paw Care
With the roads icing over, tons of salt and chemical agents are expected to be scattered on roads, sidewalks, driveways, etc. This poses a threat to your pup if those chemical agents are ingested, so in addition to keeping your dog’s paws warm, dog booties can help keep your dog’s paws clean from hazardous materials. If your dog has long fur between their paw pads, consider trimming the fur to avoid accumulation of snow leading to uncomfortable ice balls.
Dog booties - or mittens - are great to have also because of the cold. Paws are one of the areas of your dog's body that may be subject to frostbite, so preventative measures are always recommended to keep frostbite away from your worries.
Bathing
During the winter months, it’s recommended to cut down on how many baths you give your dog(s). Your dog relies on the oils on their skin, and if you wash your dog too much, those essential oils are removed and your dog is subject to dry and flaky skin. Keeping them dry is also important to prevent hypothermia.
Fur Care
When you go for a walk with your dog, bring a towel with you especially if your dog is longhaired. That way you can wipe snow off the fur between your dog’s paw pads that can eventually accumulate and turn into ice balls. This makes it uncomfortable for your dog to walk. If your dog’s coat gets wet during winter walks, make sure you dry them off as soon as you get home.
Warmth
If your dog’s breed is susceptible to the harshness of cold temperatures, bundle them up! There are tons of doggy vests and coats in the market for you to choose from that cater to most breeds. Bonus: Our dog harnesses fit nicely over these vests and coats! Pro-tip: Make sure to remove wet clothing from your dog once you are back home to avoid hypothermia.
Stay Indoors
We’re not saying quarantine or shelter in place, but there’s truth to the phrase, “If it’s too cold for you, it’s too cold for your dog.” Bring your dog inside instead of having them out in the yard and make sure they have a warm bed to snuggle up in. Add a blanket so that they can burrow during cold weather and winter storms. To wrap this up simply, give them all the fixings to take shelter from the cold.
Remember to keep your dog's bedding away from fireplaces. A fireplace might seem like a great location to have your dog bed, but if you don't plan on being nearby, there's a fire hazard risk there.
Ice Hazards
It's a given to not go for a walk during winter storms. What about on regular winter days? Stay away from thin ice or icy paths. If your dog makes a fall, it can result in injuries such as muscle strains. We wouldn’t want that now, would we? Pro-tip: If you're walking at night, keep a flashlight (or your cell phone's built in flashlight) on hand to quickly access when you're scoping out the roads and paths.
What you’ve just read is a sampling of blog posts we offer at Joyride Harness. We cover current events, informational posts, interviews, and more! You can find more content including tips and tricks and how-tos for caring for your dog on our blog at this section. Feel free to leave a comment with tips you’re looking for!
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