Cold nights remind us that it’s still sweater weather for pets
SWEATER WEATHER LINGERS FOR MANY PETS
Overnight temperatures in the 30s remind us cold weather isn’t done with us yet. But local dogs Doodle and Tesla are ready for whatever chill is in the air. They’ve been outfitted with lightweight sweaters for their outdoor walks.
Dr. Tai Federico, a veterinarian with Riverview Animal Hospital on North Market Street, laughs about what his neighbors might think when they see the colorful sweaters on his dogs: Tesla, a Jack Russell/chihuahua mix, and Doodle, a chiweenie, a chihuahua/ dachshund mix.
But the doctor isn’t taking them off because one of his four children, teenage daughter Mya, was concerned about the dogs’ well-being in the cold and spent her birthday money to buy the sweaters, he says.
She meant for Tesla, the female, to wear the pink sweater, but it was a better fit for Doodle, the male dog.
“Doodle doesn’t mind,” says Federico. “He’s secure in his masculinity.”
In a recent survey by pet insurance company Petplan, more than 70 percent of 4,992 respondents say they dress their animals to protect them from the cold.
Dressing their pets is just vanity for some owners, but some animals really could benefit from an extra layer of clothing during cold weather, according to local experts. Smaller animals may appreciate a sweater, whereas an extra layer isn’t needed by larger, better-insulated breeds, such as huskies, German shepherds and chow chows.
“Dogs like a little chihuahua can get cold pretty easily, and I think they could benefit from being wrapped up or having on a sweater,” says Dr. Marisa Shulman, associate veterinarian at Riverview Animal Hospital.
In the Petplan survey, 88 percent of owners of small dogs, 25 pounds or less, report dressing their dogs in sweaters during the winter. The number decreases to 62 percent for pet owners with medium-size pets, 26-60 pounds. And only about 47 percent of pet owners with dogs larger than 60 pounds dress them in sweaters.
The average chihuahua weighs only 3 to 6 pounds, so they can shiver and become cold very easily, says Shulman.
Even some large dogs can benefit from protective clothing when it’s cold. Greyhounds, for instance, average 60 to 90 pounds, but they have almost no body fat and their skin is very thin, says Katherine Hogan, a sales associate at the PetSmart on Gunbarrel Road.
Breeds such as poodles and shih tzus may also get sweaters to protect their body heat after grooming. These dogs’ fur doesn’t automatically shed, so a sweater can help the
animal feel warm after a winter haircut, says Hogan.
And no matter how hearty the dog, the American Kennel Club recommends protecting its paws from the harshest weather with booties.
“Icy particles and snow can collect between his toes, and most road salts and deicers are toxic to dogs,” according to www.akc.org.
Cats usually don’t need to wear sweaters. Like dogs, they can be cute all dressed up, but a sweater can cause a cat to overheat or get caught on a tree branch. Groomers may put a sweater on older cats to keep them warm after a haircut, and some vets may recommend a sweater after cats have been shaved for surgery.
But experts caution pet owners must monitor dogs when they’re wearing sweaters. Left unattended, the sweaters can rub and irritate the dog’s skin or the sweaters could get cold and wet and cause irritation.
As for Tesla and Doodle, Mya believes the sweaters keep the dogs warm, though Federico says he can’t imagine them getting cold too often.
Cats usually don’t need to wear sweaters, which can cause them to overheat or get caught on a tree branch.
They usually stay in the house, he says. And they sleep under covers.
Contact Yolanda Putman at yputman@timesfree press.com or 423-757-6431.