Among the many dog ​​owners there are those who treat their creatures as if they were human, in fact ignoring their characteristics and needs as animals, and those who proudly treat them as dogs, and in fact ignore and do not respect their characteristics and the needs (many) that they have in common with humans.
One of the circumstances in which the two different approaches are expressed is protection during the cold seasons . There are those who dress dogs when it is 20 degrees and those who, in the name of dogs are dogs, expose them to freezing always and in any case, as their mother created them.
The reality is that regarding the protection of dogs from the coldthere must be no absolute or ideological positions because dogs are sensitive to low temperatures and loving and respecting them also means protecting them when it is cold. Here are some points to consider.
Index
- Think that dogs feel the cold
- Think about its characteristics and needs
- Adapt the outputs
- Listen to the dog
- Pay attention to your fingertips
- He thinks that dogs are at risk of frostbite
- Keep in mind that dogs are at risk of hypothermia
- Avoid temperature range
- Remember that dogs get colds
- Leave them free to choose their favorite place in the house
- Don’t leave them outside
Think dogs feel cold.Not
all feel the same, but it is a fact of the nature of dogs that, like humans, they are sensitive to cold (as well as heat) and (re) feel changes in temperature. This means that everyone, according to their needs, must be protected when the climate becomes rigid. Reflect on characteristics and needs
Each dog is an individual in itself with its specific needs and uniqueness also applies to the relationship with the cold. That said, some dogs are more vulnerable to cold than others and need to be properly protected. These include short-haired dogs, small dogs, dogs with pathologies , puppies and senior dogs. Adapt outings
When temperatures are low, the outings of all dogs must be adapted to the weather conditions and to the specific needs of each. For puppies, the elderly, the sick, it may mean going out a little and briefly, for others it may mean changing the type of going out.
For example, a ball game session may not be the best idea in low temperatures while a walk, perhaps with the right accessories to cover it, allows the dog to meet his physical and mental needs in safety. Listen to the dog
Dogs, some more manifestly some more subtly, express how they feel. Watching the signals they send helps you determine how to handle them when it’s cold. If the dog appears anxious, trembles, cries, stops, looks for something, appears weak, signals that it can no longer stand the cold and must be promptly taken to shelter. Beware of fingertips
Ice, salt, de-icing chemicals are a danger to dog’s fingertips. Before going out, therefore, it is a good idea to protect them (there are many ad hoc products for snow and ice on the market).
Back home, the fingertips should be cleaned with a damp clothto remove any residues of snow, ice and / or chemicals and dry thoroughly. In case of injuries, contact your veterinarian promptly. Do you think that dogs are at risk of frostbite
When it is cold, the extremities of dogs – legs, tail, ears, testicles (particularly for short-haired dogs) – are at risk of frostbite which, in addition to being dangerous, is also sneaky because effects on the tissues are not noticeable immediately.
Going back to the starting point, when the temperatures drop we must consider the needs of the dog and for the most at risk, protection is a must. Keep in mind that dogs are at risk of hypothermia
Dogs, like humans, also run the risk of hypothermia if exposed to very low temperatures for a long time. Symptoms include tremors, lethargy, muscle stiffness, slow heart rate and breathing. If your dog exhibits symptoms consistent with hypothermia, see your veterinarian immediately. Avoid temperature
range Heated dog houses mean living in a constant spring, if not summer. They also mean, however, that the furry have no way of adapting to the lowering of outside temperatures, which is why even those who would be equipped for the cold may need to be protected. Remember that dogs get colds
Yes, dogs get colds: symptoms include fever, tremors, refusal of food, lethargy, diarrhea, vomiting, blinking eyes. Among the causes of colds are the changes in temperature between hot inside and cold outside.
Warning: colds require veterinarian intervention. Never leave your dog wet or damp, least of all when it is cold. Leave them free to choose the place they prefer in the house
Also based on the climate and their needs for heat, dogs may prefer to rest in one place rather than another in the house. It is right to satisfy their needs and let them stay where they are most comfortable. For some, winter is a favorite season for keeping warm by snuggling up in bed with their humans.Don’t leave them outside
Given that there are dogs that are naturally equipped for the cold – Tibetan Mastiff, Alaskan Malamute, Siberian Husky, Italian Wolf to name a few – it is right not to force any dogs outside when temperatures are low.
