In this week’s issue here’s what we are sniffing out

• Hot Tips for Cold Weather

• and that’s it… it’s too cold for more than one feature this week ;-)

Hot Tips for Cold Weather

The weather here in Denver is about to get pretty darn chilly. Below-zero temperatures are no joke for an old dog. The older the dog, the more dangerous cold weather can become in mere minutes. Cutting straight to the chase, here are some important tips for managing your geriatric dog in very cold weather.

• If your dog is holding up one paw, and then the other, while outside, his feet hurt. Cold ground can become very painful very quickly. Put on some booties, or just do your best to minimize the time he spends with paws on the ground. If he’s small enough, be prepared to pick him up as soon as he’s done and carry him back in. If he’s larger, keep an eye on him and get him hustled inside as quickly as possible.

• Furry paw pads can collect snow or ice balls in bad weather. Remove them from your dog’s paws every time he comes inside. A product called Musher’s Secret helps reduce the chances of snowballs building up. I cannot attest to whether it leaves residue on hardwood floors, but clients have told me that this product also helps their dogs with traction on slick floors.

• If you don’t have a jacket or coat for your dog, you can adapt a human long sleeved shirt or sweatshirt to work in a pinch. Roll up the sleeves, and gather the extra fabric around the waist up to the top of the back and knot it. Children’s clothes can be easily adapted to fit small dogs, too!

• DO NOT leave dementia dogs or extremely old pups outside unattended. At least watch them if you don’t go out with them. Esther, who had dementia, seemed even more confused in extremely cold weather. She never could figure out potty time the colder it was outside. Radar, who didn’t have a lot of dementia but was 19, had the same issue. It seemed the cold sapped their brains and even if they were freezing, they still couldn’t figure out that coming back inside would help. So they would just stand outside in the miserable cold. Don’t forget, that dogs with dementia can get confused in the yard and forget how to get to the door, or wander off somewhere in the yard and get lost. This is a terrible risk for a geriatric pup in bad weather.

• If your old dog is mobility challenged, painful with arthritis, or very small, shovel a patch of snow for them so that they don’t wade into snow deeper than they are tall, or strain muscles trying to bound through deep snow. We also bank the snow up at the perimeter of the patch to create a boundary. Lizzie, who loves snow, strains her achy hips from time to time romping in it. Better to be safe than sorry!

• Spread out potty pads inside to create a makeshift potty patch. If it’s just too bitterly cold outside or they refuse to wear clothes, you have an alternative option for them.

• Be very careful with heating pads and electric blankets. Dogs’ bodies trap heat pretty easily under the fur and burns happen quickly. Set any electric covers/blankets/beds to low or warm, and check the area on the pad very often. Dogs who have mobility issues may not be able to get off the heating pad easily, and dogs who have circulation or neurological problems may not feel the heat at all to know it’s burning their skin. If your home is drafty or your old dog runs cold, place his bed over a heating vent if you can spare one. The warm air will keep the bed warm but not overly hot.

• Expect the best, prepare for the worst. When you prep for possible power outages, consider the family pets. Your elderly dog will need to be kept warm just like the rest of the family. Hypothermia sets in quicker than you may realize in older pets. This link from VetMed.com shows symptoms and treatment.

Let’s talk booties:

I have used a lot of dog booties on a lot of paws in my life. I REALLY prefer booties that are flat/U-shaped vs ones that have the shape of little feet and stand on their own without legs in them. Shoe-shaped ones with soles are, in my opinion, more likely to rub, cause discomfort, and negatively affect your dog’s gait over time, especially with an older dog. They never seem to fit correctly. Booties may be a little harder to put on but they conform to your dog’s paws so much better. My recommendations do reflect my preferences, so if you like shoe-shaped dog booties, you won’t get much help here. The ones I recommend are all a little warmer and have some traction.

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How did we do with this week’s newsletter?

• High Paws

• Pooped in the House