Happy Thanksgiving from Everyone at Laughing Dog Kennel Jenny Kline

Happy Thanksgiving From Everyone At Laughing Dog Kennel!

By Jenny Kline, Laughing Dog Kennel

As the cooler temperatures arrive, we all need to remember our dogs and cats. They may be accustomed to spending time outside during the warm months, but the fall and winter seasons can simply be too cold.

It is important to remember that dogs and cats get cold just like we do, especially at night. A dog’s fur can only work as insulation if it is free of mats and dead undercoat. Any time the temperature dips below 40 degrees, there is a real concern of our pets getting frostbite. It is no fun for anyone, 2-legged or 4-legged, to suffer outside in plummeting temperatures. Smaller and/or elderly dogs are especially at risk. Arthritis and other health conditions are exacerbated by the cold as well.

If you have no choice but to keep your dog outside, remember they must have a doghouse or another form of enclosed shelter from the elements. Your dog will need a lot more calories during cold times too, so increase his or her food significantly to maintain a layer of fat. Any dog can become hypothermic, but skinny dogs are particularly in danger.

It is extremely important that clean fresh water (not ice) is always available for our pets. So don’t forget to use a bucket heater to keep their water from freezing. Bucket heaters can be found at Tractor Supply or online.

Remember to put plenty of bedding in the shelter or doghouse. Straw, wood shavings, or several big blankets can help, but it’s much better to just bring them inside. The Humane Society was giving out free bales of straw just for this purpose.

For dogs lucky enough to live indoors, remember to limit play time outside to avoid frostbite or other health risks from cold exposure. Snow can build up between the toes and paw pads very quickly. This can be very uncomfortable until it melts.

This brings me to another cold weather tip: ice melting products will burn your dog’s feet within seconds of contact. Be sure to use pet-safe melting products. If your dog does come into contact with any ice melting substance, be sure to immediately rinse his feet off thoroughly with warm water.

Antifreeze is fatal to pets. It is apparently sweet tasting, so many dogs will lick it off the ground which poisons them. Immediate veterinary intervention is necessary to save the dog’s life and sometimes even then it is too late. So be sure to use petsafe antifreeze and clean up any spills right away.

Remember in the event of a big accumulation of snow, small dogs can get stuck in the snow or become disoriented and lost when their world is buried in snow. They can hop over partially covered fences which used to contain them. They can also crash into buried obstacles. This happened to one of my dogs a few years ago and resulted in an emergency trip to the vet!

Even during the cold months, dogs still require regular grooming. A haircut may not be necessary but a simple bath and brush out will keep your dog’s coat in tip-top shape, which will avoid the need for a drastic shave down come June. A mat-free coat also helps keep them warm.

Cats, being smaller, have a more difficult time in the winter. They are less able to handle the cold temperatures and typically have less body fat to keep warm. Cats also generally have less fur than dogs, so are more susceptible to hypothermia and frostbite.

We can still enjoy the snow and winter activities while being mindful of our dogs’ and cats’ well-being.