Amy's frosty freeze4/9/2024 ![]() More serious signs are things like lethargy, weakness, or slowed breathing which are all signs of hypothermia. If they are shivering, standing in a hunched position, lifting their paw(s) off the ground, or giving you verbal cues (like whining or barking) bring them inside. The best piece of advice I can give you is to know your dog - pay attention to the signals they are giving you. Keep pets with these conditions inside where it’s warm. Small dogs and short-haired dogs need a sweater or jacket for the added protection and warmth.Īny physical conditions like arthritis or hip dysplasia will only be aggravated by the cold. Bernards, and Akitas have thick coats that help protect them from the elements. While no dog should be left out in the cold alone, breeds like German Shepherds, St. If it’s below freezing, these dogs should be taken outside to eliminate only.ĭifferent breeds have better tolerance to winter weather. Remember that puppies and elder dogs are much more sensitive to the cold weather because their bodies can’t regulate their body temps well. Your dog’s age, breed, and health are all major factors as well. ![]() If it’s below 0 degrees, no dog should be out for a walk. Smaller dogs should limit the walk to 15 or 20 minutes if temps are between 20 to 32 degrees F. Most healthy medium or large dogs can walk for 30-minutes if the temperature is above 20 degrees F.You should shorten your walk time in those types of conditions. Body temperatures will lower much faster with any type of moisture. If it is snowing and it is especially wet snow, it can be more uncomfortable.You should always go by the temperature with the wind chill included. It’s important to know how much the wind chill lowers the feel of the actual temperature.And no matter how cold you feel, your dog still needs exercise during the winter.Īfter talking to a few veterinarians in Elmhurst and Lombard, I’ve come to a few generalized guidelines.While there’s not one right answer for an exact safe outdoor temperature for your dog, here are some tips to keep in mind: I don’t 100% buy the whole “if it’s too cold for you, it’s too cold for your dog” theory. Unfortunately, there isn’t one perfect answer for this. ![]() Keeping up with the theme of cold weather tips for walking dogs, I thought I’d answer the question that I’ve been asked at least 20 times in the last couple weeks: She is a special person and I am so grateful that our dogs got to spend so much time being doted on by her. It was so clear that she loved and understood our dogs and also so clear that they loved her and looked forward to seeing her. I cried when I said goodbye to Hunter because she had started to feel like a regular in our house and an extended part of our family. While everyone on your team is wonderful and we have appreciated all of them,I would be remiss if I didn't take a moment to say something about Hunter. As the kids got older, they figured out who the walkers were and would either happily chat at them and tell them everything that was happening (Emmett) or shyly hide and watch them from around the corner before loudly yelling goodbye (Caroline). Pepper would patiently wag freeze and wait for her turn. Curtis would excitedly "talk" to whoever would come to walk him and then immediately trot away because he enjoyed being chased down to put his leash on. It took special people to see past this big dog's frantic behavior and know that it was anxiety, not aggression, and be patient and work to understand him. He was enormous, loud, drooly, anxious, and hated to be left. While Pepper was a very laid back dog, those of you who worked with Curtis know that he was *special*. Whether it was their walks during the week or overnights or holidays or vacations, I can't let tell you how nice it was to know that they would be cared for by people who understood them. Your team became a regular part of their lives and our household. Even after we had (human) children, the dogs were still special and spoiled and central to our lives. As I'm sure you know, Curtis and Pepper were our children before we had children and we built a life and world around them. I honestly can't remember how long ago you guys first started caring for our dogs (8 years maybe?), but it feels like forever. I just wanted to send a heartfelt Thank You to you and your team.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply.AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |