How to Keep Dogs Warm in Winter

Does your dog shiver when he’s only been outside for a few minutes, or does he enjoy playing in the snow? During the winter months, dogs feel cold just like humans, especially when this breed is not cold tolerant. However, some other dogs have a better cold tolerance than humans. To keep your dog warm in the winter, you need to understand their origin and health, as well as note that you must spend time protecting your pet in the cold weather.

Table of Contents

Taking care of dogs in the cold season

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Clean your dog properly. Do not trim, shave, or trim a dog’s coat because the coat’s function is to keep the body warm. You need to follow the principle of proper hygiene, brushing and detangling thoroughly during the winter, because the tangled hair is not enough to protect the body from snow and cold rain, nor does it effectively insulate. ^{[1] X Research Source} Proper hygiene helps prevent dandruff in dogs during the dry winter months if your pet is experiencing it.

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Bathing the dog in the house. The dog must be completely dry before going outside. It is advisable to bathe the pet sparingly in winter, or even skip this hygiene procedure. You should note that in the cold season, dog hair takes a long time to dry. This helps them avoid serious colds.

If necessary, give your dog a quick bath with warm water and dry quickly. Do not bathe with cold water because it will make the pet shiver, and the low temperature will make it difficult for the dog’s body to warm up.

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Trim the hair around the foot pad. This helps prevent ice and snow from accumulating between the liner. ^{[2] X Research Sources} After walking outdoors, you should check the soles of your dog’s paws for cracks, scratches, and foreign objects. If possible, you should protect the soles of their feet by applying Vaseline or E45 to moisturize, but still be careful of paw prints around the floor!

If your dog doesn’t wear shoes, you should wipe off the salt and snow melt chemicals after every walk; Chemicals can be toxic and salt will cause irritation.

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Do not overfeed your dog. Dogs need regular and quality food during the cold season to store energy and body heat. However, domestic dogs usually do not need to eat much in the winter. Otherwise they will be overweight.

You should only feed your dog a lot if they live outdoors and are active during the winter. Talk to your veterinarian about your dog’s specific energy needs.
Always provide enough clean, non-freezing water for dogs inside and outside the home. You can buy a thermos that can be used outdoors.

Maintain your dog’s health in winter

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Prevention of winter diseases in dogs. Like humans, dogs can also get sick in cold weather, especially colds or weather conditions. Some common diseases include respiratory tract infections in humid climates, gangrene from frostbite, and absorption of toxins.

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Keep your dog warm and dry. This helps prevent respiratory infections, such as kennel cough (like the common cold in humans). If your dog has a respiratory infection, you should take him to the vet immediately. Note that if there are many dogs in the house, such as in a kennel, the disease can spread more quickly. ^{[3] X Small Animal Internal Medicine Research Source . Nelson & Couto. Publisher: Mosby}

Brian Bourquin, DVM

Veterinarian and owner of Boston Veterinary Clinic

Brian Bourquin is a veterinarian and owner of the Boston Veterinary Clinic, a veterinary and pet care clinic with two campuses in the South End/Bay Village and Brookline, Massachusetts. Boston Veterinary Clinic specializes in basic veterinary medicine, health care and preventive care, critical and emergency care, soft tissue surgery, and dentistry. This clinic also offers specialty services in behavior modification, nutrition, acupuncture pain therapy, and laser therapies. Boston Veterinary Clinic is an AAHA-accredited veterinary hospital (American Association of Veterinary Hospitals). Brian has over 19 years of experience in the veterinary industry and earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Cornell University.

Brian Bourquin, DVM
Veterinarian and owner of Boston Veterinary Clinic

If you feel cold, you can also infer that the dog is cold. One way to keep your dog warm is to use a Velcro jacket, which is easy to put on but also easy to take off. Depending on whether there is snow, ice or salt on the ground, you should also give your dog socks.

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Frostbite can be a problem in some dogs, especially hairless breeds. Check the tip of the ear and the tail. If these parts are cold, white, red, or gray in color, and/or dry and hard, this may be a sign of gangrene. ^{[4] X Research Sources}^{[5] X Research Sources}

If you suspect signs of gangrene, you should cover the dog’s limbs with a blanket or towel to keep warm slowly and then bring it to the vet immediately. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

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Store hazardous chemicals used in the cold season out of reach of dogs. Antifreeze has an unusually sweet taste to dogs and they will lick it if it is accessible. Just four teaspoons of tea can kill a dog weighing less than 5 kg. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

If your dog swallows antifreeze, you need to take him to the vet immediately, as treatment is required within a few hours to save the pet.
Another poison used in the winter is a mouse trap. used in large quantities because people are close to each other during the winter. Store all hazardous chemicals out of reach of dogs and other pets, and clean up any spills immediately.

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Note the dog’s current medical condition. Arthritis and chronic osteoarthritis can become severe during the cold season. Talk to your veterinarian about medications, treatments, and ways to keep your pet with arthritis healthy during cold weather.

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Take a short walk in inclement weather. Do not walk your dog the same distance as in warm weather. A short walk will still provide enough exercise and comfort without causing the dog (and you) to get cold.

Even at home, you should still exercise. Play indoor games with your dog, such as frisbee, tug of war, hiding toys, and if possible, allow your pet to run around the house. Encourage your dog to run up and down stairs to exercise agility. Note that if your dog has problems with their joints or hips, they may not be able to run, so just allow them to walk up and down the stairs.

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Note that the rock is easy to slip for dogs and people. Ice skating can cause stress and sprains, so don’t encourage your dog to play on the ice, especially games like frisbee.

Keep dogs away from frozen lakes. The ice seems sturdy, but if the dog falls, it can drown. Unfortunately, their pet rescuer also drowned. So no matter how difficult it is, you should not try to save your dog.

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Put your dog on a leash when walking in cold weather. If something goes wrong, such as a blizzard, or an unexpected iceberg, or if your dog falls into a lake, you won’t be able to save your dog. Always carry a fully charged phone with you in case you or your pet has a problem to call for help.

Prepare a shelter for dogs that live outdoors in winter

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Find out your dog’s susceptibility to cold weather. Some breeds are not cold tolerant, while others are well adapted to cold weather. Dogs that can’t stand the cold need to stay indoors. However, even dogs that are adapted to cold climates still need warmth and shelter to survive just like dogs that live outdoors.

Cold-tolerant dog breeds include the Alaskan Malamute, Siberian Husky, and Chow Chow. ^{[8] X Research Sources}
Breeds that are poorly adapted to cold weather include Dobermans, small dogs, short-haired or hairless dogs, and Greyhounds. In addition, dogs that are shaved or trimmed a lot also belong to this group because the coat has the function of keeping their body temperature.

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Prepare shelter. Dogs are best kept indoors during the winter, only going out to exercise and deal with sadness. This helps ensure that the dog doesn’t get cold while you’re away or sleeping. Puppies should not be outdoors because they are not able to keep themselves warm like adult dogs.

If you have a dog that lives outdoors (such as a sled dog), you need to prepare a shelter and a mattress inside. Spread fresh straw to insulate the cold ground inside the dog’s shelter. ^{[9] X Research Source} Change new straw regularly.
Outdoor dog shelters require sloping roofs, insulation and heating, especially in very cold climates. ^{[10] X Research source} When it rains, the entrance should be covered to prevent rain from entering the house.

Keeping dogs warm outdoors in winter

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Keep the nest warm and place it in a suitable position. The bed plays an important role in keeping warm during the winter. If your dog is lying on the ground or another location with an opening, you should spread the mattress on the floor. Do this by placing the mattress pad on a low floor, lifting it a few centimeters off the ground. The purpose is to prevent heat loss in contact with the ground.

Craft a floor by placing a slab of plywood on some books or bricks.
Prepare a bed by nesting mattresses, blankets, and old clothes to keep warm.

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Provides heat on cold nights. This is especially important for dogs that are old and have arthritis. Consider using a heated dog bed or hot water bottle. ^{[12] X Research Source} Once dogs are comfortable with a warm mattress, they will accept and even want to crawl into it at night. ^{[13] X Source of Animal Physiotherapy Research . McGowan. Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell}

Older dogs often suffer from stiff joints during the cold season. You should keep the joint warm to make them comfortable, or cover with a thick blanket after the dog goes to sleep.
If your dog is past the period of chewing, you can use a bag of cherries and heat it to keep the joints warm. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions, heat the pack and place it on your dog’s stiff or swollen joints, then cover them with a warm blanket for extra comfort. ^{[14] X Animal Physiotherapy Research Source . McGowan. Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell}
There are many types of electric blankets or heating pads available today, and a new type of mattress under investigation is the baby blanket. They function to keep the puppy warm and provide just enough heat that is safe for prolonged exposure. When choosing a heated mattress, you should read the instructions carefully to see if your pet can lie directly on the mattress without getting burned. Some mattresses designed for animals are not safe when lying directly and need to be equipped with an additional layer to prevent burns. ^{[15] X Animal Physiotherapy Research Source . McGowan. Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell}

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Clean and replace the drive regularly. This helps prevent fleas, microorganisms, and dirt. This is especially important during winter, when insects seek out warm shelter.

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Use special dog clothing in certain situations. This type of clothing helps the dog feel warm in the cold winter. They are especially suitable for small breeds, dogs without long hair (such as race and greyhounds), and old or sick dogs. ^{[16] X Research Source} A common sign that a dog needs clothing is tremors, just like humans. ^{[17] X Research Source}

You can buy or make your own (knit, embroider, crochet, or sew) coats and warm clothes for your dog. For wet winters, you should add a waterproof layer but still make sure the dog can breathe.
Dry clothes before letting your pet wear them. If the dog is outdoors in wet clothes, the cold wind will cause the water to evaporate and hypothermia making them colder. You should prepare several sets of clothes to change into while washing.
If possible, you should undress your pet when indoors, unless the indoor temperature is too low. If dogs wear clothes throughout the day they won’t notice the effect when going outside.

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Use fur boots to protect your dog’s feet when walking in snow and salt. Salt irritates a dog’s paws and snow feels very cold. Fur shoes have the effect of keeping warm and avoiding contact with irritating salts. However, unless you have trained your dog to wear fur shoes from a young age, some dogs will refuse to wear shoes.

If your dog has trouble putting on shoes, you should do positive reinforcement training. Put a shoe on one foot, reward it with food, then take it off. Repeat daily and gradually increase the number of shoes until the dog is used to wearing shoes. ^{[18] X Research Sources}

Advice

Place a hot water bottle under your dog’s bed to warm it up quickly.
Limit your dog’s exposure to cold weather. If your home has a separate pet door, or a dog entrance to keep the cold out, you should still keep track of how much time your dog spends outside in case they’re out in the cold for too long.
If you feel cold, so will your dog. Therefore, when arranging a sleeping place for your pet, you must choose a location where you also feel warm.
Before giving your dog a coat, you should put it in the dryer for 10 to 15 minutes. This will help increase the temperature of the coat and keep the dog warm when going outside.

Warning

Never leave your dog outdoors during the winter. Dogs need time to adapt to temperature changes. If you want to leave your dog outside in cold weather, you should acclimatize them in the fall to get used to the temperature changes and stimulate the coat to grow thicker.
Do not leave your dog outside for too long in cold weather.
Do not leave your dog in a cold car. When the heater is turned off and the temperature drops rapidly, the car is like a refrigerator and the air is not only not circulating but also very cold.
If your dog falls into a lake or glacier, you should call for help. Do not risk your life to save the dog. ^{[19] X Research Source}

Steps