12/01/2025
Please take care of your pets!
❄️🐾 Gentle Reminder: Cold Weather Safety for Dogs 🐾❄️
This morning the real feel was -4° here in the Midwest and while many of us are bundled up with heated homes, not every dog is so lucky.
We shouldn’t have to say it…
but some dogs simply cannot handle being outside in temperatures like this.
Short-coated breeds, seniors, puppies, small dogs, medically fragile pets, and dogs not acclimated to the cold can struggle quickly... sometimes within minutes.
Here are gentle reminders to keep your pets safe during this drastic temperature drop:
🧣 ✓ Limit outdoor time....even for “tough” dogs
If you can’t stand outside without gloves, your dog shouldn’t either. Short-coated or thin dogs may only tolerate a few minutes.
🧊 ✓ Dry them off when they come inside
Snow, ice, and slush on paws and bellies can rapidly chill their body temperature. Wipe them down to help them warm back up.
🐾 ✓ Protect those paws
Salt, ice melt, and frozen ground can crack paw pads. Rinse and dry feet, use paw balm if needed, and watch for limping.
🏠 ✓ Provide warm bedding... inside is best, not outdoors
No dog should be expected to sleep in an unheated garage, shed, or outside in severe cold.
Warm blankets, raised beds, and a draft-free space are essential.
💧 ✓ Fresh water.... not frozen
Dogs still need consistent access to liquid water. Indoors is best. Hydration helps regulate body temp.
💨 ✓ Keep them out of the wind
Wind chill can be far more dangerous than the actual temperature. Minimize exposure whenever possible.
🐶 ✓ Consider a coat or sweater
Seniors, puppies, small breeds, and short-coated dogs benefit greatly from a warm layer.
🚨 If you see a dog left out in this weather for extended periods, please speak up.
Cold stress and hypothermia can set in quickly and most of the time, the dog can’t advocate for themselves.
