Dr Kritima Kapoor
As dog owners, we all wish our furry friends would live as long as we do and accompany us throughout our lives. But it is an unfortunate truth that dog life spans are much shorter than human ones. However, that does not mean our four-legged pals don’t have special moments to live for. Moreover, they do need your additional care and attention especially in this chilling winter season. Remember, if the weather’s too cold for you, it’s probably too cold for your pet too. Just like human beings, cold tolerance of pets varies from pet to pet based on their body fur coat, body fat stores, activity level, besides their health status. It is important that you should be aware of your pet’s tolerance for cold weather and tune your efforts to care of your pet accordingly. You will probably need to shorten your dog’s walks in very cold weather to protect you both from weather-associated health risks. Long-haired or thick-coated dogs tend to be more cold-tolerant, but are still at risk in cold weather. Short-haired pets feel the cold faster because they have less protection, and short-legged pets may become cold faster because their bellies and bodies are more likely to come into contact with snow-covered ground. Pets with diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, or hormonal imbalances may have a harder time regulating their body temperature, and may be more susceptible to health risk problems. With a view to help preventing cold weather dangers from affecting your pet, following things need to be sincerely taken care of:
* Dogs and cats should be kept indoors during cold weather. It’s a common belief that dogs and cats are resistant than people to cold weather because of their fur, but it is not true. We forget that we put on layers upon layers to keep us warm, while our pets still only wear merely their one fur coat. Longer-haired and thick-coated dog breeds, such as huskies and other dogs bred for colder climates, are more tolerant of cold weather; but still no pet should be left outside for long periods of time in freezing weather.
* Don’t keep any pet outside for long periods of time, but if you are unable to keep your dog inside during cold weather, provide a warm, solid shelter with door against the direction of prevailing wind. The floor of the shelter should be off of the ground to minimize heat loss into the ground and the bedding should be thick, dry and changed regularly to provide a warm, dry environment. Space heaters and heat lamps should be avoided because of the risk of burns or fire.
* Dress up your pet in a dry coat or sweater that covers your pet from the base of the tail to the shoulders. It will help to retain body heat, prevent skin from getting dry and provide additional warmth. Be sure your pet’s winter wear does not pose a choking or strangulation risk.
* Bathe your pets as little as possible during winter chills. As washing too often can remove essential oils and increase the chance of developing dry, flaky skin. If your pet must be bathed, make it on a sunny day and use a moisturizing shampoo, rinse and towel dry properly.
* Always use a towel after long walks to clean off irritated paws and pet’s fur coat to remove ice, salt and chemicals and do check for cracked or chapped paw pads or redness between the toes. Make them wear booties, as they help minimize contact with sand and salt and prevent it from getting lodged in between bare toes, causing irritation. You can also apply petroleum jelly and gently massage into paw pads before going outside. It will also help to protect from salt, chemical agents and to heal chapped paws.
* Groom your dog regularly. Your dog needs a well-groomed coat to keep him/her properly insulated. Brushing your pet regularly not only gets rid of dead hair, but also stimulates blood circulation, improving the skin’s overall condition.
* Feed your dog additional calories and keep your pet at a healthy weight throughout the winter because pets burn extra energy by trying to stay warm in wintertime and it may sometimes cause dehydration. Feeding your pet a little bit more during the cold weather and making sure he/she has plenty of water to drink will help to keep her well-hydrated, and her skin less dry.
* Be gentle with the elderly and arthritic pets during winter as they may have more difficulty in walking during temperature extremes. Their joints become more stiff and painful during chilling spells. Watch also for signs of discomfort and pain in your pets. If they shiver, seem anxious, slow down or stop moving, provide warm place and cozy thick bedding or warm blankets to make them comfortable.
* Learn to recognize signs of hypothermia or frostbite. If your pet is whining, shivering, seems anxious, slows down or stops moving, seems weak, or starts looking for warm places to burrow, get them back inside quickly because they are showing signs of hypothermia.
Hypothermia is a condition of a body temperature below normal. It occurs most likely when the animal spends too much time in cold temperatures or when animals in poor health or with poor circulation are exposed to cold. In mild cases the normal body response is to shiver and many will show signs of depression, lethargy and weakness. As the condition progresses, a pet’s muscles will stiffen, heart and breathing rates slow and there will be poor to no response to stimuli (i.e., calling out their name, touch, or offering treats). If you notice these signs you must get your pet warm and ask your veterinarian.
Frostbite happens when the animal’s body gets too cold and blood is shunted away from the extremities such as ear flaps, toes, and tail to the center core of the body. It is often indicated by pale, bluish skin color. The tricky thing about frostbite is that it is not immediately noticeable. If you suspect frostbite, bring the pet into a warm environment and consult your vet. We can advise you how to warm up your pet gradually and resume circulation to these outer body parts or assess the damage to start treatments for pain and infection if necessary.
* Another important thing you need to take care is that if you park your vehicle outside in the winter, check underneath, bang on the hood, or hit the horn before starting it, in case a neighborhood cat or some stray dogs are seeking warmth from the car’s engine. So that you don’t injure any animal unknowingly.
Winter is a great time of year. But it could be a dangerous time for your pet as well, if they are ignored. So don’t let it be. If you take the above precautions and care, you and your pet can have a fabulous winter and many more loveable moments with your furry companions.
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