Taking Care of Your Dog in the Winter

Taking Care of your Dog in the Winter

As winter creeps closer and closer, it is important to remember that you have to take special precautions to ensure that your dogs are safe and healthy during the cold weather. Here at Cooper Mountain Kennel, our Hillsboro dog boarding service can keep your dogs safe, warm and snug while you are away on business or vacation. With our Hillsboro dog grooming service we can carefully trim your dog's nails to prevent them from scratching up your furniture all winter long.
Just like with humans, cold weather can take a toll on puppies, elderly dogs, and dogs who are suffering from a disease or illness. Prolonged exposure to cold temperatures can result in hypothermia and even frost bite. If you take your dog outside on a brisk winter morning and you notice them shivering or moving sluggish, it could be the warning signs of hypothermia. The best thing to do in this case is to immediately take your dog inside and to get them as warm and dry as possible. Frostbite usually affects the extremities, such as ears, feet and tails, so it is important that you keep an eye on those areas. If you see discoloration of the skin or blisters, it could be a sign of frostbite.
Dogs have been known to ingest just about anything that they come in contact with, including harmful chemicals. Antifreeze is a commonly used product in the winter, and dogs are attracted to its sweet taste. Unfortunately, even a miniscule amount of antifreeze can be lethal if ingested by a small dog. It is a deadly poison, so it is important to keep your antifreeze somewhere your dogs won't be able to get to it. If you accidentally spill some antifreeze on the ground, make sure to thoroughly clean it up. Salt and other ice and snow-melting substances can also cause problems for your dog. If left in the fur long enough, they can cause skin irritation. Just taking a few minutes to brush the salt off of your dog's feet and stomach can make a huge difference.
Needless to say, some dog breeds are better equipped to handle cold weather than other breeds. If your dog has a very thin coat you should be careful about how much time they are spending outdoors in the winter. If you do go on a winter walk with your dog, make sure to put them on a leash. More dogs are reported missing or lost in the winter than in any other season. Cars also have less control on the road and take longer to brake in the winter. It's also a good idea to prevent your dog from chowing down on snow. They could accidentally swallow some other harmful object or substance that is buried under the surface.
Keeping your dog safe in the winter is not hard; it just takes a little extra effort on your part. At Cooper Mountain Kennel, we excel at taking care of dogs when their owners are out of town. Our Hillsboro dog grooming service is unmatched in quality, and our caring staff will always treat your pets as if they are their own.