A stroll with our dog through a winter wonderland is absolutely beautiful, and should not be missed. Do consider though that your animal can be exposed to dangers you might not even be aware of.

Low temperatures: some dogs are easy to get cold, especially the ones with very short hair. Low temperatures and wetness from snow can lead to hypothermia, a dangerous decrease in body temperature, and/or frostbites. Make sure your animal is properly protected and limit the time for it being outside. Dress your dog in a coat or sweater if you know that he is sensitive to cold and dry the animal properly after coming back home. See our article on our Sistersite PetStuffReviews .

Frostbite: Shorthaired dogs are most susceptible to frostbite, but thickly coated dogs are also vulnerable. Watch for excessive licking of body parts or the dragging of a limb as signs of possible frostbite injuries. Frostbite will also show as discoloration of the skin, an almost black appearance, and starts always at the animal’s ears, nose, feet and tail. When the tissue has already died, bleeding will occur. Frostbites require IMMEDIATE treatment! Use lukewarm water to warm the affected flesh, never hot water and visit the veterinarian.

Hypothermia is even more life threatening and requires immediate attention also. Keep the animal alive by warming and avoid further exposure to cold. Wrap it in one or several thick blankets and see a veterinarian immediately.
The simplest way to determine whether the animal is hypothermic or not, is to check on it’s body temperature by placing a bar hand against the skin in the groin area. If the skin feels warm, hypothermia is unlikely, if the skin is cold, the animal’s temperature should be taken. Once you establish that the dog is hypothermic check on pulse (it would be slow to none), breathing (slow to none) and mental response (weak to unconsciousness). Hypothermic animals can develop other problems, such as change in blood chemistry, dehydration, irregular heartbeat and more. For these reasons an evaluation by a veterinarian is absolutely necessary.

Injuries to paws: Keep your dog’s paws warm and protected from the cold, snow, ice and road salt. Dog boots are recommended if you live in an area with very low temperatures and where ice on the streets and sidewalks is melted with the chemical salt Halite. It is very dangerous for you pet, not only the paws (you should rinse and dry them immediately after returning), but also when licked by the dog.

Winter and arthritis: Cold, damp weather makes arthritis worse. Even arthritis is more common in older dogs, it can also appear in young pets. More about >> Arthritis and osteoarthritis .

Outdoor dogs: Shelters report at least 5 – 6 dogs that have been frozen to death every year. There are certainly many more cases that go unreported.

Besides these sad statistics many cases of cold exposure are reported as soon as the temperatures get low. They range from mild frostbite to hypothermia. It can take as little as 30 minutes for a dog being left outdoors, without shelter, to begin exhibiting the signs of hypothermia.

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If you pet is kept outside, make sure that adequate shelter is provided. Shield the animal from wind, moisture and cold temperatures. Make sure your animal in comfortable in his shelter and can get in and out of it easily, and the opening should face away from the wind, preferably covered with a rug or similar. The shelter/doghouse has to be large enough to allow the animal to lie down comfortably but small enough to hold its body hear. The floor should be raised a few inches off the ground and covered.

>> Keep Your Pet Warm and Safe!

Several pet and feed stores carry safe heated floor mats or non-electric warm bedding. Deeply bedded straw is another good insulator. NOT recommended are heat lamps or other types of home heaters since they may cause fire easily and might also burn the dogs fur if they are place too close. See our sistersite >> PetStuffReviews! We have tested a few very good products that keep the animals safe and warm.

Dogs need to have fresh water at all times - make sure the water is not frozen during this time of year. Contrary to what some people think, animals do not know how to break the ice. (OK, some may have learned this trick, but they are in the minority). Heated pet bowls are a solution for frigid temperatures.

Outdoor dogs need more food in the winter, because keeping warm depletes energy: Make sure they get enough to eat.

And last but not least – if there is any chance you can take your pet inside during the cold season, please do so �?�

Please see also our article about >> Holiday Dangers, Poisonous Plants, etc. and an article about >> Cat Safety during winter