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Q: What's the big deal about antifreeze being bad for dogs? Is it
really that harmful?
A: Yes! Antifreeze and products like windshield washer fluid
contain ethylene glycol, a substance that's extremely toxic to dogs and
cats. Just a small amount can cause irreversible kidney damage, coma and
death. Ethylene glycol has a sweet taste, making it attractive to pets.
Many animals are poisoned by licking up spills in the garage or
driveway. Be sure to clean up spills immediately and keep containers
out of reach. If you suspect your dog may have gotten into some
antifreeze or a similar product, take him to the vet right away! Your
fast action could save his life!
Q: My dog and I go for as many walks in the winter as we do the
rest of the year. Lately, I've noticed that my dog's paw pads are
cracked and sore. What could be causing this?
A: Salt used for de-icing roads and sidewalks is the most likely
culprit. It dries out your dog's pads leading to the problems you've
described. To prevent them, wash your dog's toes and pads with warm
water after walks to remove any salt residue and dry them thoroughly.
Q: My dog loves to romp in the snow but he gets balls of ice
between his toes that hurt him. He goes crazy trying to chew them off.
What can I do about it?
A: Keep the hair between your dog's toes and pads clipped short,
even with the bottom of the foot. When hair is left too long, snow
sticks to it, forming ice balls that are uncomfortable and hard to
remove. Long hair between the pads also reduces traction, making it
easier for your dog to slip and hurt himself on the ice. Good nail care
is important, too. Nails that are too long also reduce traction. They
force the dog to walk on the backs of his feet, splaying his toes. The
greater the space between his toes, the more snow will pack up between
them.
Q: Help! I have a small dog that doesn't like the cold or snow.
She doesn't want to go outside in it so instead of telling me that she
needs to go to the bathroom, she does her business on the carpet. We
have this problem every winter and I'm getting fed up.
A: This is a common complaint, especially with toy breeds, but
it's not hard to solve. Rather than wait for her to ask to go out, put
her on a regular potty schedule and take her outside at the appropriate
times: first thing in the morning, last thing at night and twice in
between. If she will not relieve herself then and isn't trustworthy
loose in the house, confine her to a dog crate when she can't be
supervised. For most dogs, even stubborn ones, this refresher course in
Housetraining 101 reminds them that they're expected to be ladies and
gentlemen whatever the weather.
Q: My dog lives outside most of the time. I've been told that dogs
can stay warm easier than people. Is that true? Do I need to do anything
special to make him comfortable in the winter?
A: Although dogs do maintain a normal body temperature that's a
couple degrees higher than humans', we still have to give them some help
to stay warm in cold weather.
Start with a small, cozy, insulated dog house. Bigger is not
better! The house needs to be small to trap and hold your dog's body
heat which will help keep him warm through the night. It should be just
large enough for your dog to stand up, turn around and lie down in
comfortably. The house can be homemade but new insulated plastic models
available today are inexpensive and designed especially for comfort in
cold weather.
Put the house in a sheltered location out of the wind. Take
advantage of the sun's warmth by putting it on the east or south side of
your home. Placing it on a low platform to keep it off the frozen ground
will help, too. The house should have a door or heavy flap over the
entrance to keep out drafts.
Q: What should I use for bedding? I've heard that old blankets
aren't a good idea.
A: You heard right. Blankets and quilts are alright for people
inside heated homes but outside, they trap moisture that can make your
dog damp, chilly and uncomfortable. A better bedding is fresh clean hay
or straw. They allow moisture to evaporate, retain warmth, are
biodegradable and cost only a few dollars a bale. The best of these is
salt marsh hay. All are readily available from farm supply and feed
stores, stables, or local farmers. When buying straw or hay, use your
nose! It should smell fresh and pleasant like dried grass clippings.
Avoid any that smells strongly of mold or mildew. Spread the bedding
generously in the dog house, four-to-five inches thick, and replace as
needed.
Q: My dog's water dish freezes over a lot of the time. Would it
help to fill his dish with hot water? Or should I just give him fresh
water twice a day and not worry?
A: Neither. Dogs need fresh water available to them all day
especially in winter when their bodies are vulnerable to dehydration. A
twice daily watering isn't enough. Hot water actually freezes faster
than cold so that won't help either. Metal objects conduct and lose heat
quickly so switching to a heavy plastic dish will help. So will your
choice of color, container size and location -- dark colors absorb heat
from the sun and a deeper dish will freeze less quickly than a wide,
shallow one. In areas where sub-freezing temperatures are common, a more
efficient solution is an electric bucket heater or birdbath de-icer.
Q: Now that it's cold out, my dog seems to be hungrier even though
I'm giving him the same amount he's always had. Is it okay to feed him
more?
A: Yes. Just like a furnace, your dog needs fuel -- high quality
dog food -- to produce the body heat that will keep him warm. Some dogs
will eat twice as much in winter without a noticeable weight gain. Fat
in the diet helps to produce energy also. Check with your veterinarian
if you're unsure how much to feed or if your dog already has a weight
problem.
Q: Sometimes it's so cold out that I really feel sorry for my dog.
I was told that it's bad to bring him inside no matter how cold it gets.
Is that true?
A: Like people, animals' bodies become accustomed to the climate they live in. Getting used to the cold is harder when we're exposed to frequent changes in temperature - one minute warm, the next minute cold. It's usually recommended that a dog meant to live outside should be kept outside much of the time. This doesn't mean, though, that your dog must stay out constantly during periods of extreme cold or very bad weather. Please do bring your dog in when it's not fit outside for man nor beast!
