With cold, snowy winter days around the corner, it’s time for all of us to start thinking about ways to stay warm. But, what does that mean for dogs? Whether your pup loves the winter weather or prefers to stay cuddled up in a warm blanket inside, all dogs will inevitably have to prepare. Dog owners often carry the misconception that since dogs have a coat of fur, they can tolerate colder temperatures, but that’s not necessarily the case. Like humans, dogs experience the same type of chill from going out on the cold winter days. To help you navigate this winter season, here are 5 must-have snow essentials for dogs!
Booties
Even though dogs have some naturally built-in measures of protection for their paws, it’s still not safe or comfortable for them to walk bare-paw on icy sidewalks and frozen puddles. In addition, the leading ice removal method during the winter months is salt, which can be harmful to dog paw pads, especially those that have already been exposed to the snow and ice. If you’re going on a walk on a snowy day, be sure to protect your dog’s paws with waterproof, weatherproof booties.
Sweaters
While it may seem ridiculous to put dogs in clothing, it actually can be important, in fact often necessary, to have them wear certain items during certain seasons. During the winter months, dogs can be very reluctant to walk with their owners in the cold weather if they are not wearing some type of sweater. Dogs, just like humans, feel the cold weather, making it necessary to protect them from it in the same way we do ourselves.
Coats
Having your dog wear sweaters is a great way to help keep them warm during the cold weather, but will not keep them protected from serious weather like snow. That’s why, if you live in an area with heavy and frequent snowfall, you should be getting your dog a waterproof winter coat. It’s important to make sure that the coat is waterproof because if your dog gets wet from the snow in the cold weather, they could get sick.
Healing Balm
Similar to how humans often get chapped lips and hands from cold weather, dogs do too. Dogs often experience a lot of dryness on their paws and noses during the winter months. In order to combat that, there are soothing butter balms made specifically for dogs! This is a great way of soothing irritated, dry skin that might bother your dog a lot.
Dog-Safe Ice-Melting Salt
As mentioned above, the salt used for melting ice during the winter months can be very harmful to dogs. If you have a back or front yard, make sure to use dog-safe ice-melting salt so that it can be an enjoyable, pain-free experience for your dog to go outside.
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