Dog Cold Weather Tips starts out with a DIY Tip (Creative Commons video selection) to transform old sweaters and fleece clothing into a chic sweater for your dog…

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If you watched to the end or visited YouTube, you will see several popular videos on this topic that DIYers might enjoy.

Bullet Points to Consider:

• Pets are best kept inside.
• Bring your pet inside when the temperatures drop, also consider the wind-chill factor.
• Dogs and cats can get frost bitten ears, nose, and feet if left outside.
• If your pet must be kept outside:
-Provide a dry, elevated dog house with clean dry bedding and a flap over the opening to
keep drafts out. Heated pet beds are available.
-Make sure the water bowl does not freeze. Heated water bowls are available.
-Outdoor pets need more calories to produce body heat.
• Make sure a cat has not crawled under your car seeking shelter and warmth near the engine. Tap on hood before starting the engine.
• Dog jackets and sweaters are more than fashion, they will keep small, senior and single coated dogs warm.
• Watch your pet around heating stoves to prevent burns and dehydration.
• Chemicals used to melt snow and ice can irritate paws. Buy “pet safe” ice melters. Wash off paws if pets have walked through chemicals.
• Booties allow your dog to walk in the snow and prevent injury from ice.
• Keep antifreeze, salt and other household poisons away from pets.
• Bring your pet inside when the temperatures drop, also consider the wind-chill factor.
• Dogs and cats can get frost bitten ears, nose, and feet if left outside.
• If your pet must be kept outside:
-Provide a dry, elevated dog house with clean dry bedding and a flap over the opening to
keep drafts out. Heated pet beds are available.
-Make sure the water bowl does not freeze. Heated water bowls are available.
-Outdoor pets need more calories to produce body heat.
• Make sure a cat has not crawled under your car seeking shelter and warmth near the engine. Tap on hood before starting the engine.
• Dog jackets and sweaters are more than fashion, they will keep small, senior and single coated dogs warm.
• Watch your pet around heating stoves to prevent burns and dehydration.
• Chemicals used to melt snow and ice can irritate paws. Buy “pet safe” ice melters. Wash off paws if pets have walked through chemicals.
• Booties allow your dog to walk in the snow and prevent injury from ice.
• Keep antifreeze, salt and other household poisons away from pets.

…via Cold Weather Tips For Pets – myCentralOregon.com

We continue with Dog Cold Weather Tips with the viewpoint geared toward understanding more about the skin and coat makeup and care for your beloved companions.

As the weather cools, we go to the closet and get our heavier coats and sweaters out. Dogs can’t do that, they have to “make do” with the coats they were born with.

However, we, the owners, (the new current term is pet parents) can help our pets by providing adequate, nutritious meals. It is the food the animals eat that is reflected in the coat quality.

The better the food, the better the health of the dog and his coat will be thick and glossy (unless your pet happens to be one of the hairless breeds, then it is the skin quality).

Sometimes the simple addition of a single hard-boiled egg will cause the dog’s coat to be glossy and stand away from the body giving the impression that it is larger than it really is.

Of course, you have to be realistic and think about the size, age and activity of your dog before you add anything to its diet. The reason the hard-boiled egg performs so well so often is the amount of excellent protein as well as the essential fatty acids. “Essential” means the body must obtain these nutrients from outside sources since it cannot manufacture them itself.

In the Dog Owner’s Home Veterinary Handbook by Delbert G. Carlson, DVM, and James M. Giffin, MD, there is a whole chapter on skin and coat quality.

Some tidbits include the fact that a dog’s skin is much thinner and more sensitive to injury than a human’s. Using the wrong kind of grooming tools can damage the skin.

The skin is the largest organ of the body. It keeps out bacteria, is involved in the synthesis of essential vitamins, gives form to the body, insulates the dog from heat and cold, and provides sensation to the surface of the body.

In basic coat care, according to the handbook, be aware that dog hair is not like human scalp hair. Dog hair grows in cycles with rests in between.

There are variations in the cycles among the different breeds. Hormones play a part: too little thyroid hormone often changes growth and texture causing the coat to become harsh, brittle and dull in color. Ill health also takes a toll on the coat condition.

An outdoor dog usually will have an abundant coat which insulates the animal and provides protection in case there is an animal fight.

Image by Hebe Aguilera via Flickr

 

Dogs can lose their coats if there is a sudden physical stress, like a flood or earthquake. This hair loss is noticeable on the body and flank.

Indoor dogs shed more profusely because shedding is triggered by the amount of light, and indoor pets have more exposure to light both natural and artificial. Grooming is essential when the dog is shedding as dead hair next to the skin is itchy and prompts the dog to scratch.