When the temperatures drop, how do you make sure you keep your dog safe in cold weather? Read our Health & Welfare Team’s tips to keep your dog happy and healthy this winter.
1. Check your dog’s paws for salt and grit
Watch out if pavements have been salted or gritted as the chemicals in de-icer salt can be an irritant to your dog’s pads. Wipe your dog’s paws with a cloth and warm water when you return home.
2. Check your dog’s paws for ice and snow
Ice and snow can ball up in the space in between the toes, so check your dog’s paws carefully each time they have been outside and remove using warm water and a cloth.
3. Keep your dog dry
Towel-dry your dog thoroughly if they have got wet during your walk, and make sure they have a warm and cosy bed to snuggle in when they get back.
4. Keep your dog warm
Keeping warm in winter is especially important if your dog has any arthritic signs or suffers from stiff joints. When the weather turns really cold with severe frosts, they will benefit from a warm heat pad in their bed at night.
5. Make sure your dog can seen
If you can, take your dog for a walk as early in the day as possible to take full advantage of the light. When this isn’t possible, make sure that dog can be seen when out on walks in reduced visibility by wearing reflective collars or coats.
6. Stock up on food
Remember to keep plenty of your dog’s food in stock just in case deliveries are unable to get through.