Winters are cruel, especially to the soft paws and cozy furs of our pets. From frostbite to cold-induced pain, the dip in the mercury level always has pet parents wondering how well they can protect their furry babies.
Lucky for us, there are ways to save our puppers from the impact of the cold season. When it comes to your pets, please take the same safety precautions as you would for you and your family. Taking care of our pets during this winter is our responsibility as pet parents.
Here are some ways to help your pets enjoy the cold season and ease your worries about the temperature drop.
Frostbites: Limit Outside Time
While we are all for letting your pet hop, skip, and jump in the soft snow, it is essential to limit their time outside. Whenever you take them out for their routine walks and recreation, ensure that they are appropriately covered to brave the cold. Take special care of short hair dogs who are more susceptible to cold than their furry counterparts.
When temperatures plummet this low, you need to step up your pet’s protection. Pets can get frostbite very quickly when exposed to such a temperature, even for a short time. You might think our furry friend is better equipped than us to handle the cold weather, but that is not always right. Only some dog breeds can handle cold weather much better than others.
To help you understand the general withstanding capacity of your dog, here is a small table that you can refer to.
The table above is just an indicative guide. The ability to withstand extreme temperatures differs from dog to dog. Two dogs of the same breed can have different tolerance towards cold. To know the temperature that your dog can withstand, you must spend time and examine your dog.
Delicate Paws Alert! Protect them
This cannot be said enough!
Cold pavements, layered with chemicals or rock salt, can do more harm than good to your pup’s delicate paws. Things get worse when they lick their paws after coming home and ingesting the toxic elements.
By keeping them covered in little booties or wiping their paws off immediately after the walk, you help your pet against the lashes of cold and toxins.
Dark Days Ahead
With winters, long dark days are inevitable. However, safety is something you can bank upon by buying reflective leashes, collars, and tags that can help guide your pet to safety.
In Case Your Pet Goes Missing? ID Your Pet
Heavy snowfall and less daylight can often lead to pets being strayed away from home. While your search mission will help find the pooch, having your pet ID or microchipped will make it easier for vets or good samaritans to return your pooch to you.
Making pet identification, your top priority will help you stay on top of emergencies, allowing you to breathe easily during the situation.
Keep an Eye on Your Working and Older Dogs
Working dogs have untapped energy that they need to use up before the end of the day. If not, the situation might turn into a tornado of ripped carpets, chewed slippers, and dug-up gardens. However, during winters, it is important to keep a check on your hyperactive pooch’s activity. Try to keep them on a leash for as long as possible or limit their working space so that they burn off their energy without wandering away.
In the case of older dogs, it is better to keep their walks short and physical activities to a minimum. They are more likely to slow down, and that is okay. Stay by their side at all times and allow them proper rest stops in between their walks.
Even Winter Dogs Need Protection
You might have a winter dog like the Siberian Husky or the Alaskan Malamute, who are born and bred for tough cold temperatures. However, it will be helpful to cover them in appropriate attires or at least clear the pathway for them to tread on safely.
Use natural elements to clear your sidewalks and always wipe their paws after they enter the home. Winter breeds have furry coats that can easily catch grime and dirt. Brush them out regularly to help them stay away from ticks and other undesirable pathogens/elements.
The Animal Welfare Act regulations have imposed a rule that housing facilities must have adequate controls to maintain the temperature within the standards (USDA, 2013).
Losing a pet in the winter can create permanent voidness in your life. Get a pet monitor and keep an eye on the environment temperature around your pet. Get peace of mind and free yourself from stress this winter with the MyWaggle Pet Temperature monitor.
While every pet parent thinks they are providing the best care for their pets, they might unintentionally expose their dog to winter dangers and end up hurting them or even losing them. We keep hearing several animal deaths during winter, and animal care agencies have also stepped up their efforts to reduce such abandoned pets across the country.
If you are leaving them alone or in a dog house, use our pet monitor to keep an eye on the temperature and get peace of mind. You can also get alerted by the pet monitor when it is too cold for them.
Let’s be responsible pet parents and take good care of our Furry Family members. After all, they are there for us! Why not be there for them and take good care of them!
