Winter wonderland ❄️ Help your dog get through the cold winter
Before you go outside
Light in the darkness
Make sure other road users can spot you in the dark. Put a collar on your buddy that gives off light. Or use something else that has reflectors, such as a vest or harness. Even if the dog stays on a leash, walking is much safer if you are clearly visible in the dark.
In our webshop we offer the Trixie light up collar. This has multiple colors and is splashproof. In addition, it is rechargeable via the included USB cable. Click here for more information.
Cute feet
Dogs with long fur often have long hair between their paw pads and on the backs of their legs. Snow can build up in these, which can lead to snowballs/clumps. They may look funny, but can be very painful and uncomfortable. They provide extra cooling, can pull out hair and the dog can trip over them. You can prevent this by keeping the hair short during the winter. If there is a build-up on the paws, rub it slowly so that it melts. Do not pull it out, because you can pull out skin.
What you can also do is apply it to sensitive areas, such as the ears, belly and of course the pads of the feet.
As grateful as I am that in the Netherlands they generously spread salt to prevent slipperiness (I'm a bit of a klutz), I often notice that it hurts Stitch's paws. He then pulls his paw up and starts to limp. Road salt can cause cracks (fissures) in the pads of the feet. And yes, that feels about the same as salt getting into wounds in our country. Rubbing it off well helps, but you can prevent the suffering by greasing the paws well. This creates a protective layer. You can remove this layer after the walk by rinsing it off with lukewarm water. More about this under 'After the walk'.
For greasing you can use the paw balm of the Groene Os. This is a balm stick with natural ingredients such as olive oil, sunflower oil and beeswax. It hydrates the skin and immediately gives off a protective layer. Click here to order directly.
A jacket over the jacket
A dog's coat protects against the weather. It works as insulation against the cold and also protects against heat. However, some dogs can use some extra protection in the winter, especially dogs with a thin coat, low body fat percentage, dogs with short legs whose belly is close to the (snowy) ground, puppies and dogs that are visibly suffering from the cold. Then put a jacket or sweater on them. Make sure it is dry, a wet jacket will only make them colder.
During the walk
Following the nose
Is your dog a real scout and does he just sniff around? Keep in mind that snow and ice can cover up scents. He may lose his way or be run away by fireworks, which unfortunately can still be heard every day despite the ban. So make sure that the data on the chip is up to date and that he wears a name tag with the chip number or your phone number on it.
Eating snow
Rolling and playing in the snow is great fun, what a picture! But nibbling on it is a no-no. Eating snow can give you diarrhea or at least stomach upset because it is too cold. Especially if the snow has been lying around for a while, it can contain brine, antifreeze (TOXIC!!) or other filth.
Bambi
Keep your dog away from frozen water such as lakes, ponds and puddles. Of course, she cannot judge well (and you often cannot either) whether the ice is thick enough to stand on. But mainly because it is too slippery. Slipping can cause injuries to muscles and joints or even break bones.
After the walk
To the warmth
Before your best friend can warm up in his bed or on the couch, try to dry him off as best as possible. Have you been away by car? Handy to have a towel with you so that you can wipe away the salt and any snow before he gets in. We are big fans of the Pet-Towel , a towel that absorbs moisture very well. Due to the dampness, you can also quickly wipe away dirt and brine with this towel. Moreover, it comes in a plastic tube, so easy to take with you or put in the car.
At home, clean the paws thoroughly by rinsing them with lukewarm water or by going over them again with the towel. This removes the paw balm and also the salt layer. You don't want your dog to lick this off. Too much salt can be very dangerous.
Immediately check the foot pads for cracks, redness or bleeding. In this case, treat the paws with, for example, honey ointment or apply a clean layer of paw balm.
Eating, sleeping, snoring
After the meal and maybe a tasty snack, it is now really time to go to sleep. Try to place the dog bed somewhere where there is no draft. A nice blanket or pillow in it and then sleep wonderfully 😴.
By the way, speaking of blankets and pillows... Did you know that fleas can also occur in your home in the winter? The heating keeps it nice and warm inside and they can nest in that fluffy pillow. Continue to deworm your dog all year round and ensure good protection against fleas and lice.
Keeping an eye on things (outside and inside)
Do you see one or more of the following symptoms in your dog? Then there is a chance that your dog has become hypothermic:
- Trembling;
- Stressed, weak, lethargic or having difficulty focusing;
- Walking very slowly, hardly moving at all;
- Wanting to hide away somewhere;
- Having difficulty breathing;
- Pale or blue skin;
- Pain in the ears, tail and/or legs.
Take action now!:
- Take your dog immediately to a warm place;
- Dry her and put blankets around her;
- Give her some lukewarm water to drink. You can add a little sugar to it for extra energy;
- Take the temperature. Normally, the body temperature of dogs is between 38 and 39 °C. Is the temperature below 37.5 °C? Then contact the vet immediately.
Source:
https://www.aspca.org
https://www.avma.org