winter blues
Here are some things to remember to change when that lovely weather turns nasty around this time of year.
Diet
When it comes to winter feeding owners should take account of their dogs breed, age and the amount of exercise he or she gets. Older dogs who receive a lot of exercise in winter, particularly the thin-coated breeds, definitely burn up ore calories than they would do in summer, so its worth checking that they are getting enough food.
Dogs shouldn't lose condition in winter and owners of heavily coated breeds should weigh their dogs regularly as a heavy coat can cover up a few pounds of lost weight. If your dogs coat loses condition in the winter its worth having a word with your feed supplier and see if there are any changes you can make.
Walks
The winter months make it hard for some people to walk their dogs during the weekdays, usually if they are working it is dark in the morning and dark in the evening. These people will usually take their dogs out at the weekend for a good run to make up for this, but it is very dangerous. Older dogs in particular tend to get stiff in cold weather, and expecting to go from idleness to a vigorous run isn't advisable. Be aware that many dogs who have been lounging in front of the fire and then put outside in the garden for 15 mins on a cold and wet night are very likely to get chilled. You can help your dog adjust by putting his coat on before he goes out, or give your pet 10 mins to adjust to a more ambient temperature before his toilet break.
When it comes to snowy conditions and long haired dogs you should trim the paws to avoid snow sticking between the toes and making life miserable. Excessive flaires on legs and tails on breeds like cocker spaniel etc also collect snow and should be kept shorter in the winter (if it's snowy)
Winter Coats
There are dogs who definitely need to wear coats in cold weather, whippets, toy dogs, older dogs, but most adult dogs will be ok without one as long as they are moving about and warming up. Owners who clip or shave their dogs should be advised not to do this over the colder months as it's at more risk of getting a chill.
If you are a dedicated owner who exercises your dogs at the same rate all year round then you should only need to alter your dogs diet and feed twice per day, a small bowl in the morning and his main meal in the evening.
Always remember to towel-dry your dog after a winter walk, particularly the armpits as this can lead to rheumatics if they are not dried thoroughly
Safety
To make sure you can keep track of your dog in the darkness and dim light of winter days, it is recommended to invest in a flashing collar or a high visibility collar/vest. Sometimes a dog can spook and run off more easily when being exercised off-lead in poor visibility, so having a clear means of keeping him in your sight is a good investment.
You should also remeber to put a reflective badge/band/west on yourself when going for walks in the dark, it is often hard for car drivers to se the dogs collar if they are sniffing here and there!