KEEPING YOUR DOG WARM IN WINTER
As winter approaches and there’s a bit of a nip in the air, it’s a good time to think about how best to prepare our canine friends for the cold weather. Dr Sara Pitts Rosewood Veterinary Service The normal range of temperatures that animals are able to maintain their body temperature without using energy is called the thermoneutral zone. In dogs, it ranges from 20-30°C. Outside of this range, dogs need to use energy to warm up or cool down. Short coated and small breeds of dogs (such as Chihuahuas and English Toy Terriers) are more susceptible to low temperatures compared to long, thick coated and large breeds of dogs (such as Alaskan Malamutes and German Shepherd Dogs). However, while your dog may have a long coat, their ears, noses and feet are still exposed to the cold. It is important to provide a warm coat to dogs that are small or have a short coat, particularly
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DOG WORLD June 2020
when they are outside or are on a walk in cold temperatures. Also make sure that they are still able to move freely, that the coat or jumper isn’t causing them pain or discomfort if it doesn’t fit correctly and that they are not overheating if the coat is left on when they go inside or are performing vigorous activity. While warm, soft cozy bedding seems like an obvious thing to provide to your pet, it’s important to ensure that their bedding is adequate for them in winter. Older and larger dogs especially need the correct thickness of bedding (approximately 15-20cm) so that it doesn’t collapse under their weight and cause them discomfort. Their bed should be in a draft free area and ideally be raised off the ground (but not so high that they have difficulty getting in or
