Doggy, it’s cold outside!
Winter care for your dogs.
Winters are a magical time of the year. It snows in most places, you get to layer up and get cosy, and nobody needs to worry about sweat and humidity for a while. It is also a great time to have your dog around. After all, if you’re getting cosy, there’s no better company than your pooch asleep on your lap.
The arrival of colder weather brings with it a need to change your dog’s routine. Days are shorter — some places have daylight savings adjustments — so the amount of time you would get in the sun changes, as does your dog’s daily routine. You also need to keep yourself and your dog warm so that you wholly enjoy winters and the cheer they bring.
Depending upon where you are, the degree of cold can vary. You may have particular amenities such as heated floors and cars, centralised heating, etc. Or you may feel the need to use air purifiers because of smog and poor air quality. The points below are a general overview of things you can do to keep your dogs comfortable through the winter. Please feel free to follow or ignore these based on where you’re living.
Clothes:
Contrary to popular belief (and advertisements), not all dogs need sweaters and jackets to get through winters. Many dogs have a natural system to brave the cold weather — a double coat!
Breeds from colder regions of the world such as the Siberian Husky, Saint Bernard, Akita, Samoyed, Shiba Inu, Golden Retriever and Labrador Retriever, to name a few, are all double-coated dogs. Double-coated dogs have an additional layer of undercoat along with the topcoat — the top layer of their hair or fur. This undercoat has a soft, woolly texture and helps keep the dog warm during colder periods. Double-coated dogs have a topcoat that repels water, keeping them dry in the winter. They shed throughout the year like other dogs and shed their undercoat twice a year. These dogs do not need sweaters or jackets unless they are out in extremely cold temperatures (relative to the native temperatures for the breed), or seem uncomfortable in the local temperature, whether because of age, health or any other factor.
In India, we can’t always use breed as a yardstick because of illegal breeding and instances of irresponsible pet ownership. Some dogs from breeds that should be double-coated do not have as dense an undercoat, and some dogs from breeds that should be single-coated have an undercoat. If you can’t figure out which category your dog falls in, ask your vet to take a look and let you know.
If you live in India and your dogs require a sweater/ jacket outside the house, they’ll require one inside the house as well, unless you have a means of heating your house. Please assess your dog’s need for winter clothes based on your dog, not on how cold you feel. Remember, you do not even have a thick enough topcoat to keep you warm, so your need for winter clothes will be much more than your dog’s.
Food:
As the days get colder and nights get longer, we tend to gravitate to warm meals, soups and nourishing foods that help us sustain warmth. The same goes for your dogs.
Feed your dog lots of bone/ fish soups, broths and other warming foods. Proteins such as chicken, turkey, anchovies, venison, lamb and mutton are called warming proteins because they warm your dog’s body when ingested. If you live in a colder area, you can replace the regular proteins of your dog’s diet with a rotation of these. Transitions to new proteins should always be slow.
Make sure you’re adding fats in the form of oils. Spices like cinnamon can be added in limited quantities to your dogs’ food — cinnamon has a warming effect and is a natural supplement for dogs with heart disease. Skip cinnamon in meals if you’re adding it to Golden Paste. You can also add warm water to your dog’s food without making it too soupy so that it feels more comfortable to eat than a cold meal.
Some dogs like to take it easy through the winters. Based on how active your dog remains, you can reduce treats a little, and if required, split up the daily meal intake into smaller meals.
Safety:
The average body temperature for dogs is slightly above the human average at 101.5 ˚F. If it drops below 99˚F, your dog’s life may be in danger. If the air is polluted or your dog’s immunity is low, your dog may catch a cold, resulting in cough and mucus discharge from the nose. Keep your dog warm, offer broths and meaty soups and consult a vet for treatment. If your dog gets too cold, she may show signs of hypothermia, requiring immediate medical attention. Look out for these symptoms:
- Shivering
- Whining
- Curling up
- Confusion
- Muscle stiffness
- Pale gums
- Lethargy and difficulty in walking
- Cold extremities — feet, ears and tail
- Dilated pupils
- Irregular heart rate and breathing
When the temperature outside dips, we turn on our heaters. Depending upon where you are, you might not have a centralised heating system in place. If you’re using external heaters, blowers or other devices, ensure they do not have any exposed heating elements, and that the wires are not a hazard to your dog. Take extra care if you have puppies around the house. If your floors or surfaces are heated, make sure your dog remains comfortable on them.
Winters also bring festivals with them, and most of them require string lights for decoration. Be careful with the glass and wire, especially if you have an inquisitive dog. Make sure your dog is away from festive food, alcohol and any other new things that you may bring out to celebrate.
Senior Dog Care:
Senior dogs are the most special members of our families, and like older humans, they might require special care. If your dog has arthritis, it may flare up as the temperature drops. Massages, CBD oil and hot water bottles will be your best friends during this time.
Senior dogs may become less active during winters, so keep their diets in check and maintain a strict balance in what you feed them. Many older dogs have health issues, and their diets will have to be altered accordingly. Consult your vet and nutritionist for the best options suited to your dog. Keep your senior dogs warm and near, and closely monitor their health during winters.
Outdoors:
Regardless of the weather, your dog will need to go outdoors. If you experience snow or ice in your area, you can invest in protective footwear for your dog. If you get snow for a short time, look for boots that you can use otherwise. As discussed earlier, your dog may or may not need winter clothes based on age, breed and health.
Even if your dogs can withstand cold temperatures, don’t leave them outside in the cold weather, especially if you’re expecting it to get colder in the near future. On that note, if you have free-roaming/ community dogs in your area, build shelters for them and check on them to make sure they survive the winters.
Grooming:
Your dogs will need to be groomed even when it’s cold outside. Unless you’re using boots, they will need their paws to be cleaned after walks. During winters, rely heavily on wipes and dry shampoos instead of getting your dog wet. If a bath is absolutely warranted, use lukewarm water and ensure your dog is completely dry and warm when you’re done. Do not bathe your dog and leave them outside. Try to bathe your dogs early on a warmer day so that they can dry and stay warm in the sun.
If you bathe your dog and put them in front of a heat source without drying them properly, the humidity can get trapped in the coat and cause issues. On the other hand, the cold can cause dry skin and coat, leading to itching. Monitor your dog’s skin and coat health and ensure you give her all the fatty acid, vitamin and mineral sources that keep her skin and coat healthy. Brush your dogs regularly to ensure blood circulation and to allow yourself to check their skin closely.
Dogs are hardy beings and can tolerate a lot before they express discomfort. This is why it is vital to plan ahead to keep them comfortable as the world around them changes and gets colder. Remember to be patient with your dogs — it can be a confusing time for them, especially in places with daylight savings adjustments. Ensure their routines aren’t disrupted and that they still get to enjoy going outside and having hearty meals. Since the season calls for it, give them lots of cuddles and keep them warm.
