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Outerwear protects pets from cold

Frigid temperatures hazardous to many breeds, experts say

The Columbian
Published: January 23, 2014, 4:00pm

GRAND FORKS, N.D. — Your dog may have a fur coat, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he can handle the bitter cold and winds Mother Nature batters us with in winter.

“Pet attire,” such as a coat or sweater and booties, provides the extra protection most dogs need to avoid the harmful, sometimes life-threatening, effects of extreme cold, according to a veterinarian.

Unless your dog has a thick heavy coat, she could benefit from outerwear to protect against the harmful, sometimes life-threatening, effects of extreme cold, said Dr. Katie Brose with Peterson Veterinary Clinic in East Grand Forks, Minn. “Just things to keep their core warm.”

Owners should be concerned about their pets’ feet too, she said.

“If you’re walking in an area where the homeowner uses a de-icer on the walks, not all of those (products) are pet-friendly. The salt can cause soreness between (the dog’s) toes and lead to irritation.

“Those issues go away with cleaning the paw.”

Keeping dogs warm, and their paws protected, is important, Brose said, because, unlike humans, dogs don’t have sweat glands; one of the ways they dispel heat is through their feet (the other is panting).

Mark Mayer, general manager of Petco in Grand Forks, said he’s having trouble keeping winter pet-care items, especially footwear, in stock.

“I tell people, imagine yourself standing outside barefoot right now,” he said.

“If the dog is going to be out longer than 5 or 10 minutes, 15 minutes tops, I recommend protection on the feet.”

For dogs, the severe cold and de-icing salt sprinkled on walkways make venturing outside potentially dangerous, he said. “The cold is going to do more damage to their paws than anything else.

“At 20 below, even if (you’re outside) just for a short time, it’s not a bad idea to put on boots” on your dog.

Ashley Bester, customer service adviser at Petco, said, “I’ve had people tell me that once (the dogs) realize booties keep their feet warm, they put up with them a little better.”

She has seen owners of small-breed dogs, Labradors and golden retrievers buy footwear at the store, she said.

Advice Brose gives pet owners about dog garments and footwear “would depend on the type of dog,” she said.

“Short-haired dogs, such as Chihuahuas, would benefit from outerwear. Greyhounds need a jacket.”

On the other hand, “arctic breeds, such as huskies and malamutes, don’t really need protection,” she said. These breeds, “or any breed with a real thick fur coat, such as a chow,” can handle extremely cold temperatures.

“But even these breeds might need foot protection, especially if they’re out for a long time.”

Outdoor temperatures, the wind chill factor and how much time the dog spends outdoors influence what accessories are needed, she said.

“If you lead an active lifestyle, if you do a lot of hiking or you’re an ice fisherman, and your dog goes with you, booties would be important.”

Mayer agrees.

“Small-breed dogs and toy breeds are not equipped for our climate,” he said. Short-coated breeds are the dogs that really need it.

“Dogs under 20 or 25 pounds are not going to do well in our extreme weather,” he said.

“Breeds such as Newfoundland, malamute and husky — any breed with a big heavy oil coat — thrive in this weather.”

To help them withstand winter conditions, dogs should be fed “a high-fat, high-protein diet to build up their body fat,” he said, which acts as an insulator and traps heat.

Petco carries several styles of footwear for dogs, Mayer said, including rubber-coated socks that keep paws dry and a heavier-duty fleece-lined sock, with rubberized grips on the soles, which is recommended for dogs that spend more time outdoors and on icy surfaces.

Another product that “looks like a boot” has fleece lining and rubber soles and is intended for long-duration use outdoors, he said.

Socks and boots range in price from $20 to $40 a pair, Bester said.

Pet owners could improvise by using infants’ socks or cast-off sweat socks, secured with Velcro, as dog booties, Mayer said.

“You could even use gauze or athletic (bandage)” to wrap your dog’s feet.”

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