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Winter Tips
Even in our relatively mild winters, dogs need protection from wet and cold, either inside your house (best) or inside their own. Dogs can freeze! Most small and short-haired dogs are best kept inside when it gets cold. An outdoor dog needs a winter coat and its dog house should be dry and elevated with clean, dry bedding and a flap over the opening to keep out drafts. Consider adding a dog door to the garage and a soft cushion in the warmest corner.
Note: The AHS strongly encourages pet owners to keep pets indoors year-round. After all, they are members of the family! Dogs are very social creatures who do not do well when isolated from their families. If your dog is banished to the yard because he tears up the house or behaves badly, please take him to obedience classes so he can live inside.
Diet - Check water bowls often when the temperature dips below freezing, and break the ice or refill with water as necessary. An outdoor dog may need more calories in the winter to produce body heat; on the other hand, an indoor dog may exercise less during the colder months and need fewer calories. Ask your vet about increasing or decreasing the amount you feed your dog.
Chemicals - Antifreeze smells and tastes great to dogs, but it is a deadly poison. Watch for radiator drainage spots in driveways and flush them clean immediately. Chemicals used to melt ice and snow on sidewalks can irritate your pet's paws (and burn your pet's mouth if it licks), so you may need to wipe them with a wet cloth after an outing. Pets outside in the snow may need the ice between their paw pads removed.
Holidays
The special activities at holiday times offer dangerous opportunities for dogs.
Food - Overindulgence during holidays is a human tradition which can be serious trouble for dogs. Alcohol or chocolate can be toxic for your dog. Keep it away from Easter baskets, Christmas stockings, and Halloween bags. During family feasting times, be strong with your "no people food" rule! If you must give your dog something special, there are plenty of dog treats that are tasty and healthy.
Festivities - To ensure your pet's security and peace of mind on days such as New Year's Eve ( or the Fourth of July), we recommend that you leave your pet inside the house, or sheltered in a basement or garage, with the windows and curtains closed and the air conditioner or fan on (in summer) at a normal level. In winter, leave a radio or TV on with soothing music. These precautions will reduce and muffle the frightening sounds outside. It will also help during parties when doors are frequently being opened. Any pet who is easily frightened at the backfire of a car or who is frightened by ordinary thunder and lightning should NOT be left at home alone during fireworks.
Decorations - Crepe paper, tinsel, ribbons, decoration hooks, fragile glass ornaments, holiday lights, Halloween costumes, and all of the other holiday decor we add to our households are all tempting and dangerous to dogs. Candles are fascinating, and it only takes one wag or sniff for disaster to strike. Many traditional holiday plants are toxic. Check with your vet for a list of poisonous houseplants. Decorate with careful thought to placement and access.
Exercise and Play - many dogs seem to really enjoy playing outdoors in the colder months, so strap on your boots and grab the leash! In addition to games of fetch and the like, your dog will still enjoy long walks (as long as it isn't too icy) and being with you.
When the really foul weather drives you both indoors, play "mind games" like Hide and Seek or Find It. Consider an interactive toy for your pet like a Buster Cube. Spend the wintry indoor days teaching your dog tricks, too. For instructions on some tricks, click here.