Mary Allen
Even if it’s bitterly cold and freezing outside – walks with your four-legged friend through snow-covered winter landscapes are something very special. With these 5 tips, your dog will get through the winter healthy.
Choose the right way to go for a walk
Most dogs are happy about freshly fallen snow and in many ways are better protected from the cold than their owners. As a rule, a healthy dog does not freeze very quickly. Even slippery paths are no problem for dogs in winter: they usually have a good grip with their claws and only rarely slip.
If you and your dog are averagely trained, cleared paths are recommended because walking the dog can be very tedious in deep snow. If your four-legged friend still has a lot of fun romping through the white mountains along the way, carefully remove annoying clumps of snow from his paws and fur in between.
If possible, avoid gritty stretches on your walk in winter. Gravel can injure the animal’s pads, salt dries out the dog’s paws, and can burn unpleasantly in open cracks. Forest and field paths usually offer ideal conditions for a trip through the white splendor.
Pay attention to paw care
In the city, in particular, it is often very difficult to avoid gritted paths in winter. In such cases, you don’t have to grab dog shoes right away. Although this can be a sensible alternative for sensitive or injured animals, a species-appropriate shoe made of durable, waterproof, and breathable materials should be chosen. Read here about how to find the ideal dog shoe.
For most dogs, intensive paw care is sufficient in winter when it is very cold. If you, like us, need more care for your hands, face, and lips in winter, the pads of your four-legged friends can also be protected with a little Vaseline, deer tallow, or special paw care when it freezes outside. The layer of fat has a water-repellent effect and makes your pet’s paws supple, preventing tears.
Since snow and sand quickly stick to the coat, it makes sense for dogs with longer coats to clip the hair on their paws. Otherwise, snow that first melts and then freezes again can form lumps of ice that interfere with the dog’s walking or tug painfully. Sometimes a trimmed coat also contributes to paw care.
Keep moving
If you are out and about in winter, make sure not to cool down while walking. When it’s cold, always keep your four-legged friend on the move so that he doesn’t freeze, and try to keep your and your dog’s circulation going through a lot of activity. You can also enjoy long trips in the fresh air without the risk of you or your four-legged friend catching a cold.
If your pet is older or ill, it may behave sluggishly, freeze or even start to tremble when it is cold. Then you should keep the trips in the fresh air as short as possible and also equip your dog with a dog coat.
Make snow taboo
Snow and road salt can also become a problem for dogs’ digestion. Many dogs tolerate the pure snow without any problems, but the cold food can also irritate the stomach lining, which leads to vomiting in some animals. When walking, throw sticks or a ball instead of snowballs, so as not to encourage your dog to eat snow.
If your dog eats snow from paths that have been grit, this always poses a danger, since your animal almost always ingests salt or grit. If the grit contains antifreeze, this can cause life-threatening damage to your pet’s kidneys. If you observe cramps, rapid breathing, or uncoordinated movements in your dog after a walk, ethylene glycol poisoning may be the cause and you should consult your veterinarian. The salt also irritates the stomach of the four-legged friend and triggers indigestion. It is better not to let your dog eat snow on such paths.
Don’t forget to clean and dry
After a walk in the fresh air, you can make yourself comfortable again inside with your four-legged friend. But before that, you should clean and dry your treasure so that it doesn’t freeze for long. Check the paws again and remove any residue of salt or grit with lukewarm water. Otherwise, your dog will clean its own pads, licking the salt or possible antifreeze off its paws.
Also carefully remove any clumps of snow. Here, too, room-warm water can help if the ice cannot be easily removed. Finally, rub the fur and paws dry with a soft cloth.
If you follow these tips, your dog will enjoy winter walks even more. Together you strengthen your immune system through exercise in the fresh air and stay fit together.