Dogs in winter: how to protect your four-legged friend from the cold
Created: 12/19/2022, 11:00 am
By: Anne Hund
Some dogs are particularly sensitive to cold.
Experts explain when coats or jumpers make sense for your four-legged friends and what you need to look out for when caring for them in winter.
Not every dog tolerates the cold as well as a husky.
It is therefore all the more important that you take good care of your dog in winter and make sure that it does not start to freeze.
Because even dogs can catch a cold if their immune system is weakened.
Dogs in winter: Some dog breeds are particularly sensitive to cold
Many dog owners deliberately let their dog's fur stand a little longer during the cool months.
With poodles, for example, you should make sure that the coat is not clipped too short in winter.
But that's not always enough to protect the dog from the cold.
Very small dogs like Chihuahuas are particularly sensitive, as the animal protection organization “Four Paws” informs on its website.
Boxers, Boston Terriers and Rhodesian Ridgebacks also have no undercoat and would cool down more quickly.
Dogs in winter: make sure your coat or sweater fits well
The right dog clothing helps to ensure that the four-legged friend does not freeze so quickly in the snow.
(Iconic image) © Shotshop/Imago
Fortunately, there are also special winter clothes for dogs.
The easiest way is to take your four-legged friend to the pet store to try them on.
"You don't coddle your dog by keeping him warm.
Especially animals with a weakened immune system or dogs from southern countries that are simply not used to the cold can be protected by clothing," says "Four Paws" expert Karina Omelyanovskaya.
"However, one should be careful that the coat or sweater does not restrict the dog's movement or communication skills."
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Dogs in winter: The four-legged friend should keep moving outside
It is also important that the four-legged friend does not cool down at all, but keeps moving: "During a brisk walk, perhaps with one or the other game unit, the muscles warm up and the circulation gets going.
It's no different with dogs than with us humans," advises the expert.
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Dogs in winter: protect paws from road salt
The road salt on the sidewalks can also attack the dogs' paws.
To prevent this from happening, Omelyanovskay advises applying a special paw cream before going for a walk.
"Be sure to include the spaces between the toes, as painful lumps of ice can form here," said the expert, according to the statement.
Immediately after the walk you should clean your paws from the salt and sand.
So that the dog does not lick it and thus come into contact with dirt.
Dogs in winter: Beware of frozen lakes and streams
Also, be careful with frozen puddles, lakes or streams, according to the important advice of the animal protection organization: Dog owners should not let their four-legged friends walk on ice surfaces.
"If the dog breaks through, he can injure himself on the pieces of ice - even if he just steps in a frozen puddle.
In the worst case, there is a risk of drowning in deeper water if the animal cannot get out of the water on its own and its strength fails,” says Karina Omelyanovskaya.
Even cats can freeze in winter.
Keepers should protect them well from the cold.
