Posted By Nancy Houser on November 22, 2009

This guest post is brought especially to you be Dog Fence DIY’s staff veterinarian Dr. Susan Wright. Dog Fence DIY will help you choose the right pet containment system for you and your furry friend, help you install your new system properly, and help train your pet to use the new system. Dog Fence DIY also has a variety of underground fence wire systems at the best available prices. Be sure to visit Dog Fence DIY for all your pet containment needs.

As winter approaches, we need to make sure our dog copes with the cold weather as well as we do. Although they do have a fur coat, we still need to take precautions to make sure they stay comfortable and warm during the colder months.

Here are four important considerations to helping your dog enjoy winter:

SHELTER

Many people enjoy having their dog live inside their home with them, and these dogs will have no problem with the cold. However, if your dog is an outdoors dog, you must provide shelter from the elements. You may want to consider allowing him inside the house with you just when it’s particularly cold outside.

If your dog must stay outside, provide a warm kennel or sleeping area that’s protected from the wind and the snow. His kennel should be big enough for him to move around in but small enough so that his body heat can warm it up. Raise his bed from the ground to keep it warmer, and line it with straw or old blankets for warmth.

NUTRITION

Dogs, like people, use energy to create body heat, so in winter he’ll need to eat a bit more food. Either increase the amount he’s fed in each meal, or add an extra snack to his daily allowance. It’s important that you don’t overdo it because you’ll spend spring trying to get the excess weight off him.

Use plastic bowls for food and water, because his tongue may stick to frozen metal, which would give him a big fright.

SAFETY

There are health hazards associated with the colder months. Many homes have a fireplace, and burning embers can singe your dog’s coat. Make sure you have a safety guard around your fireplace whenever a fire is burning.

You may also have added antifreeze to your car’s radiator to stop the water freezing. This is deadly to dogs. It tastes very sweet, so they will lick it up quickly, but it causes kidney failure. Clean up any spilled antifreeze before your dog can get to it.

If your dog still likes to go for a walk in the snow, try putting some booties on him. They’ll stop him slipping, but will also prevent little balls of snow accumulating on the hairs on his foot. These make it painful to walk.

HEALTH

Frostbite can affect any dog if they’re exposed to extreme cold. The ears, toes and tail tip are particularly at risk. If your dog becomes frostbitten, you’ll need veterinary help to stop the tissue dying.

Hypothermia occurs when your dog’s body temperature drops, through extreme cold, or if they get wet in winter. This can be fatal, and unless your dog is slowly and carefully warmed up, he could still die after his body temperature returns to normal. This is one time where you can’t be complacent. If your dog has hypothermia, see your vet immediately.

Older dogs with arthritis also find winter tough. They often become quite stiff, and their joints are more painful. Talk to your veterinarian about perhaps adjusting your dogs dose of arthritis medication. You can also provide soft bedding, and try to avoid the need for him to walk up and down stairs.

Winter is a fun time of year, with so many enjoyable things to do. Spend a little time making sure it’s also enjoyable for your dog.

Related posts:

• GUEST POST: “Dog Fence DIY”
• How to keep dogs warm in winter
• GUEST POST: “Every Dog Needs a Job”
• Signs & Symptoms of Winter Hypothermia in Dogs
• Arthritis in dogs during the winter

For more dog health care tips, pictures and stories subscribe to WayCoolDogs.com today!
This post is filed in: Guest Post | Tags: DIY, Dog Fence DIY, dog fences, pet containment system, underground fence system
1 Comment »
E-mail To A Friend