Do not leave the dog in the cold car. In a parked, cold car, there is no air circulation and it is very cold. Young and very old dogs are less able to cope with the cold than healthy adult dogs.
Prevent snow eating.
No long waiting times - without exercise - outdoors and no long stays in the garden.
Keep moving – so it's better not to stop for a conversation. Hypothermia can lead to bladder/kidney inflammation.
Adapt the duration of the walks to the dog. If he's shivering badly from the cold, neither the dog nor us will enjoy a walk.
Check eyes. In winter, many dogs have eye infections from icy winds.
Playing in the snow is great, but keep fetch games short or the dog may develop a cough or tonsillitis. Sticks split very quickly in the cold and are a risk of injury.
Bathing ban but also drinking ban in water bodies.
-A winter coat can protect small dogs that are sensitive to cold. Although our beagles also have a thick undercoat (except for puppies), a coat is necessary by kidney damage, back/joint problems.
-Paw ointment protects the paws from road salt and grit. It is best to keep the fur short between the toes.
-Dogs have the same energy requirements in winter as in summer. So they don't need to be fed extra in winter. However, you can strengthen the immune system with supplements.
Maintaining a balanced rest is important - we tend to overdo the dog and over-exert them. A healthy adult dog needs 16-20 hours of rest and sleep a day.
© Vienna Calling Beagles