Keeping warm and safe this winter

Posted on 16th Nov 2011 @ 2:59 PM

Keep warm and safe this winter

As the nights are still very dark, particular care must be taken when embarking on your evening walk. Dark roads, cold weather, icy pavements and paths can all pose a number of hazards to you and your pet’s safety. Armed with a little common sense, and these handy tips, you can continue to enjoy your nightly stroll – even during winter! Happy trails!

• ·        Be safe, Be seen

It is definitely worthwhile investing in some reflective gear for yourself and your pooch. Most good pet stores will sell a range of leads and collars with inbuilt reflective strips. Ensure you wear reflective armbands or a high-visibility tabard for extra safety. Take care to remember the Highway Code - always walk into incoming traffic, rather than with your back to it.

• ·        Cold , wet, grumpy? Your dog is too!

Consider purchasing a coat for your dog and perhaps even booties for our more sensitive furry friends. Thin coated breeds such as greyhounds, smooth dachshunds or Dalmatians feel the cold weather much more than thicker coated breeds. Why not invest in a fleece lined coat with reflective panels? You can find a huge range online, often made to measure or breed specific.

• ·        Keep away from frozen ponds and lakes

Keep your dog under control or on a lead if you plan on walking near or around a frozen lake or pond. Whilst the ice around the edges may be thick enough to handle a dog’s weight, the centre of the water will be covered with very thin ice, which a dog could easily fall through.

• ·        Puddles? Yuck!

Even if your pup likes to sip on muddy water as if it were the finest champagne, at this time of year puddles are easily polluted with antifreeze which is highly toxic when ingested.

• ·        The intrepid explorer….

If it’s feasible, do try and keep your dog on a lead or at least close to you at all times, especially in icy and snowy conditions. Scents on the ground are not as strong during cold weather, and if your dog runs off into the night, he may not find his way back to you. Many pet stores sell ‘halos’ –circular plastic tubes that clip around a dogs neck and flash brightly so you can always see your dog in the dark. These are exceptionally handy if you have a black dog, as I have found from personal experience!

• ·        Returning home

When you return home to the warm, always dry your friend down with a towel and check for signs of hypothermia (cold extremities, bradycardia). Also check paws for any signs of cuts and scrapes. Icy ground can be sharp and graze the pads of the feet. Road grit can cause soreness of the skin between the toes, but can also cause kidney failure if ingested in large quantities, for example if it is licked off during grooming.