Keeping Active with Your Furry Friend This Winter
By Rebecca Hurd

Maybe you and your dog are hardcore outdoor enthusiasts, or perhaps you log serious hours on the couch together. For either extreme or anywhere in between, a little preparation goes a long way before heading outside for winter adventures. “We’re extremely blessed by the four seasons we have here,” says Eagle Animal Clinic’s hospital director, Dr. Katie Wright. “But there are some adjustments to make for the disparity between 100 degrees in the summer and 20 or below in the winter.”

“Dogs are tough critters, though I think we’ve bred the smarts out of some breeds,” says Wright. “They don’t know to get out of the weather because they’ve always been taken care of.”

Take a few tips from Wright and essential gear selected by Northwest Pets’ owner Del Peterson and you’ll keep your furry friend safe and active this season.
1. Winterize your home
For outdoor dogs, Mother Nature does a phenomenal job of acclimatizing them. However, it’s essential to provide a heated water source, shelter out of wind and rain and adequate calorie requirements. Also, use non-toxic ice melt on your pathway and deck, and watch for any syrupy sweet and deadly antifreeze leaks.
Gear up: Buy heated or insulated bowls, SnuggleSafe’s ® microwavable pet heating pad and non-toxic Safe Paw ™ Ice Melter.

2. Focus on fitness
Being weekend warrior isn’t good for anyone. You and your dog might feel good that day, but you’re both spent for the rest of the week.  Ease in to your outdoor activities if inertia has set in over the holidays.
Gear up: It’s all mental here— just commitment and consistency.

3. Protect the footpads
Active dogs that run all year have quite a bit of toughness built into their footpads. Dogs that have been in the yard all summer will have tender feet. Mix in the cold, hard, frozen ground and they may end up with a blister or torn footpad.
Gear up: Get a pair of booties. After the initial flamingo walk most dogs forget they’re wearing them. Or try Musher’s Secret™, a barrier wax with a semi-permeable shield.

4. Trim the furry stuff
Burrs, seeds and snowballs can get embedded in your dog’s feet and fur. Trim between the pads, long hair on backs of legs, and some belly hair. But don’t go extreme as that hair serves an essential insulating purpose. “Be careful with scissors,” Wright cautions. “It’s pretty common to see pets brought in with lacerations because matted areas are often very close to the skin.”
Gear up: Get your pooch its own grooming set of a comb and clippers.

5. Dress for the weather
Beyond fashion statements, jackets serve a very necessary purpose, for both high active and super fit dogs and little ones with minimal insulation.
Gear up: Fashion or purely function, outfit your dog with a jacket or neoprene vest.

6. Warm up together
Get moving, but not so fast. Just like people, dogs are more stiff and creaky in the winter. Check with your vet to see if anti-inflammatory or pain medication may be appropriate for your dog. “Don’t just open the back door of the car and take off,” says Wright. “Let the muscles get going so there’s no muscle strain injury.”
Gear up: Over-the-counter joint supplements such as glucosamine chondroitin and fish oil may help your dog.

7. Hydrate throughout the adventure
Snow is not an acceptable water source because of the amount dogs have to eat. Also it uses a tremendous amount of energy to melt, in turn dropping a dog’s core temperature, possibly leaving it dehydrated and hypothermic.
Gear up: Bring a water bottle for you and one for your dog.

8. Cool down and dry off
Just like us, a dog dissipates much more heat when it’s wet. After your adventure, give your dog a little TLC. Dry it off, serve up a little extra food, and maybe bring it inside to warm up. Do the same for yourself.
Gear up: Commit to getting back out there with your dog tomorrow.

“Common sense and consistency go a long way,” says Wright. “Just be wise stewards of the animals we were blessed to take care of.”