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Question:
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"Is there anything special I need to do to keep my dog healthy in the wintertime?"
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| Answer: |
When the weather outside is frightful, order in a supply of videos and chew toys and contemplate the following cold-weather tips over a mug of mulled cider:
1. If you’re freezing when you go outside, your dog is probably freezing, too. Yes, wolves can handle subzero temperatures without a whimper, but they aren’t acclimated to living in steam-heated apartments like our dogs are. If your dog seems cold in the winter, buy him or her a coat (click here for more about chilly hounds). When it’s really bitter outside, don’t go on long walks or linger in the park—take your dog out to do his business and come right back home.
2. Don’t let him eat the yellow snow—or the white snow, either. Eating snow can lower a dog’s body temperature significantly, especially if the dog is small, and that can lead to hypothermia.
3. Treat the feet. Ice-melting salt on cracked foot pads can sting like crazy, and snow clumps between the pads hurt too. If the snow and salt bother your dog’s feet, you may want to invest in some waterproof dog boots (the most popular brand, Muttluks, sells for around $30). Secured with velco straps, dog boots are fine for city walks, but they're prone to falling off the minute your dog starts racing through the snow.
Some people have reported success with Musher's Secret, a wax that is rubbed onto a dog's pads and between the toes before going outside. The wax apparently helps seal cracks in the pads, which in turn seems to protect against the sting of salt. Using petroleum jelly as a salt barrier doesn’t seem to work as well, possibly because it rubs off faster (though some people swear it's just as good as Musher's Secret, and it's much cheaper). Just remember never to doctor your dog’s feet with any salve or moisturizer that isn’t safe to eat, because lick it off he will.
Even if your dog’s feet don’t seem sore after a winter walk, it’s a good idea to rinse them with plain warm water and dry them as soon as you get home. This will keep your dog from licking the chemicals off his feet and will melt any painful ice or snow buildup between his toes. You’ll also avoid getting salty paw prints all over your floors.
Finally, be sure to keep the hair between your dog's paws as short as possible: less hair means fewer painful clumps of snow.
If you can talk your building manager into the extra expense, or if you de-ice your own walkway, there are "paw-safe" ice melters on the market that work well and don’t sting (one big brand is called Safe Paw), but they are much more expensive than the regular kind.
4. Watch out for Con Ed crews. Every winter there are reports of dogs being shocked by walking in areas where underground electric wires have shorted out: the combination of salt, wet snow, and an electric current can lead to one nasty jolt. There's no sure way to prevent this, but in winter it is a good idea to steer your dog around metal grates, plates, and lamp posts as best you can. If your dog does get zapped, be sure to report the incident to Con Edison (212-683-0862). Typically ConEd will send someone over right away to correct the short.
5. Antifreeze is a deadly poison. This can’t be repeated often enough. Antifreeze (ethylene glycol) smells and tastes sweet, so animals are attracted to it. Tasting as little as a teaspoon of antifreeze can make a small dog very sick or even kill him. Make sure that your dog does not have access to antifreeze bottles, antifreeze spills on the street, and so on. (Click here for more about household poisons.)
6. Fight the winter itch. Many dogs get flaky skin in the winter, and some dogs get tremendously itchy during the months when the heat is running full-blast. Allergies to mold spores in heating systems or to dust mites may be the culprit in winter itch: ask your vet to recommend a treatment plan. Lying next to radiators or fireplaces—a popular winter pastime for dogs—also can contribute to dry, flaky skin.
To combat the flakes, bathe your dog regularly even during the winter. The flakes themselves are itchy to your dog, and washing them away will make him feel better. Contrary to popular belief, bathing a dog does not dry out his skin or cause more flakiness, as long as you use a mild dog shampoo (not people shampoo) and rinse thoroughly afterwards with lukewarm water. There are even after-bath skin and coat conditioners for dogs that can help ease dry skin. Ask your vet about an appropriate bathing schedule and products for your dog’s skin and hair coat.
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