Tips on Winter Petcare

I thought for SURE that it was ok to wait until early December to post my “keep your pets safe this winter when outdoors!” blog post. But last weekend definitely proved me wrong. So here we are! Keep reading for tips on how to ensure safe dog walks this winter season.

Keep your eye on the temperature (including wind chill). Be mindful anytime temps hover or get below freezing (32°F). Once the wind chill hits 25° or lower, outdoor time should be kept very limited for most pups. Here at Mint Leash Club our policy is anytime the temp/wind chill is less than 25° (or even higher for sensitive dogs!) we do a short potty break and spend the rest of the walk time playing and providing enrichment inside. That can be anything from tossing a toy around, to playing (client provided) puzzle games. You might also consider shorter, more frequent walks. If you do one 60-minute dog walk per day, consider splitting it into a mid-morning and mid-afternoon 30 minute walk.

Similar to people, a dog’s age and medical conditions can affect how well your pup acclimates to the cold. Puppies, older dogs, thin dogs, and any dog dealing with a medical condition should be considered less tolerant and in need of extra warmth. Think shorter walks, more layers, cozy sweaters inside, etc.

Be aware of the signs of hypothermia in dogs. This happens when their body temperature goes below 98 or 99 degrees. Symptoms include lethargy, pale gums, shivering, agitation, reluctance to move, and stiffness. Bring the dog indoors immediately and wrap them up in blankets.

Keep paws protected. This is so critical on our cold, salty city sidewalks! Even if your pup can tolerate the cold, snowmelt salt will irritate and even burn their paw pads. Wearing boots provides the most coverage and protection. But in my experience, that’s not always practical. Paw wax or petroleum jelly applied before a walk can be helpful. Give your dog a good wipe or rinse once they come back in. If your dog won’t tolerate anything (or anyone!) near their feet, keep walks very short and keep them off treated surfaces.

Be smart about lights! More often around this time of year we are walking our dogs very early in the morning or after work/in the evening, when it is often dark (way too early to get dark if you ask me!). Having a reflective jacket or a light up collar are great safety tools. If you’re able maybe try to move your dog’s longer walk to daytime hours. I speak from experience when I say you should have a flashlight or something similar for finding your dog’s poops in the dark!

Save off leash training for a secured space or the warmer months. And be really careful your dog is secured when taking them out for walks and potty breaks. The winter months can be especially dangerous for off leash dogs. Dogs can lose their scent in the snow, making getting back home, or back to you, a lot harder. Less daylight can make it harder to find a dog that gets loose, and harder for people (like motorists!) to see them as well. Also near parks and wooded areas the danger of going out onto thin ice or getting stranded is very real. I saw a dog stranded on an “ice berg” in Belmont Harbor last year. He swam to the ice from the beach dog park! Luckily some bystanders on the other side were able to coax him over.

Tips for the home. As pet owner/client, let your pet sitter know where your main water shut off is! If you are out of town and a pipe freezes and bursts you want them to be able to turn it off right away to minimize damage. Don’t skimp out on the heating when you’re away for the day, especially if you pets are younger, older, or have a medical condition. Finally, if you have a residence that you are responsible for snow removal, please make sure that is covered while you are away. Your pets, your sitter, and pedestrians will all very much appreciate it!