Winter Safety Tips for Dogs

Posted on 11 Jan 2019

Now that the temperatures have dropped, it’s a little harder to motivate to get out of bed and walk the dog every morning, right? Some dogs love the winter and will bound out the door while others would rather stay curled up with you under the bed covers. Either way, take precautions when venturing out to the elements with your pup. Whether you’re headed out to our parks, a snowy mountain trail, or even a local watering hole, your friends at Reunion want you and your doggie to be safe this season.

Protect the Paws

Notice how dry your skin gets in cold weather? Same thing happens to your dog’s paws. Massaging petroleum jelly onto their pads or slipping on some booties will protect them from the dry as well as salt and other chemical agents on the sidewalks and streets. You may also want to add coconut oil to their diet – it can help keep your dog’s skin and coat healthy.

Beware of Antifreeze!

With winter comes antifreeze, which is extremely toxic to dogs. Unfortunately, antifreeze tastes sweet so dogs will readily lick it up. Be sure to clean up any spills from your vehicle and be careful where your dog sniffs when walking through parking lots or crossing streets. If you fear your dog has ingested antifreeze, get to a vet as soon as possible.

Avoid lakes, rivers, and ponds

Don’t be one of those people who has to rescue their dog from icy waters. Even if it looks thick, ice can easily crack and your dog (and you!) could fall in and get hypothermia. Even if you make your way out of the water, strained muscles and other injuries could occur.

Groom Your Dog

Your pup needs a clean and well-groomed coat to stay properly insulated – especially if she spends a lot of time outdoors. However, you want to bathe your dog as little as possible during cold spells. Washing too often can remove essential oils and increase the chance of developing flaky, dry skin. Also, after bathing, make sure you dry your canine thoroughly before going outside.

Mind the Temps

If it’s too cold for you, it’s probably too cold for your fur baby! Even the furriest dogs can get frostbite. If you go out together for a few minutes and you’re suddenly ready to come in, the dog is probably needing to come in, too. And always bundle up short-haired dogs in a sweater – it will help keep them warm and you get the added bonus of dressing them up.

These measures should help to make sure your pup stays happy and healthy this winter season. And if you have any photos or videos of your dog playing in the snow this season, please – for the love of dogs – send them our way! Just tag @reunionco on Instagram.