The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Keeping your pup warm
Tips offered to help keep dogs safe from frigid temperatures
As the holidays pass and Northeast Ohio slides into the most frigid parts of winter, the cold temperatures are proving deadly.
According to an Associated Press report, a dog was found frozen solid on a front porch in Toledo.
In an effort to avoid such senseless death, Dr. Carmen Petti, a veterinarian at the Avon Lake Animal Clinic, 124 Miller Road, gave some helpful tips to keep your pooch safe in the winter.
Petti said a key thing to remember in the winter is that if the temperature is below 20 degrees, a pet should only be outside for a very limited amount of time.
“Basically (they should be outside) for just enough time to go to the bathroom, or a short little walk but that’s about it,” she said. “If dogs are very old or sick, you may even want to be
“I think little booties, if they’ll tolerate them, will definitely help protect their pads and help protect their paws.”
more careful when the temperatures get below 32 degrees.”
Petti said the breed of dog, what kind of coat it has and whether it is very young or very old, has a lot of bearing on how cautious you should be about letting your dog out in the cold.
“Some of the things we can be concerned about is everything from them becoming severely hypothermic, organ failure and shock in the most severe cases,” she said. “But then, of course, frostbite, their eyes freezing in the more common cases.”
Petti said when your dog is outside in the freezing temperatures, you should keep an eye on whether it is shivering, anxious, whining or holding up their paws.
These could be a sign that it is time to bring them in, she said.
A 2014 story on caninejournal.com claims a Japanese study found dogs have a specialized circulatory system through their paws that ensure they will not freeze.
But putting boots on your dog might be a good idea, Petti said.
“I think it can help for dogs that still want to go out and get their walk,” she said. “I think little booties, if they’ll tolerate them, will definitely help protect their pads and help protect their paws.
“It might give them a little bit of insulation and protection from frost bite. It could also help protect their paws from ice and different kinds of chemicals that are on the sidewalk that can cause issues.”
Petti also said if you have a very thin-coated dog, you may want to consider getting them a quilted or insulated jacket.
She advises if you believe your dog has been outside too long and it appears to be shivering, you should warm it up “gently.”
“Getting some blankets on them can definitely be helpful,” Petti said. “You can do some warmish water.
“But if they seem like they’re suffering some ill effects, I would have them see their vet if they can’t get warm, or if their paws seem very irritated or red.”
— Dr. Carmen Petti, veterinarian at the Avon Lake Animal Clinic