Before you go out and buy your dog the fluffiest down coat on the market, consider a few of these tips for keeping your pup cozy and comfortable all winter long.
Size
The bigger the dog, the more muscle mass they have – and therefore the more heat their body can produce. For this reason, large healthy dogs typically don’t require a jacket in normal winter conditions.
Small dogs tend to benefit from extra insulation during the winter, as they have a harder time retaining body heat. Medium or large dogs who have lost muscle mass due to age or illness may also need sweaters to help them retain the heat they do produce.
Breed
Size is not the only factor that can determine whether or not your dog needs a coat for winter. Certain breeds are more prone to becoming uncomfortable during cold weather due to their body shape or activity level.
For example, breeds with thin body types such as Greyhounds and Whippets usually benefit from sweaters during winter. Likewise, breeds with short legs – like Corgis and Basset Hounds – may need outerwear to protect their bodies from the cold snowy ground.
If your dog’s breed comes from a warmer climate or does not tend to be very active outdoors, they may need a sweater as well. This is why you see many Great Danes wearing sweaters during the winter!
Fur/Hair Type
Dog breeds with thick, heavy, long coats (such as Alaskan Malamute, Golden Retriever, or Great Pyrenees) typically do not need sweaters or coats during the winter. Their fur is usually enough to keep them warm and cozy.
On the other hand, short-haired dogs have less natural insulation from the outside environment, and can quickly become too cold in winter conditions. A jacket (and booties) can keep your short-haired pup more comfortable on walks.
Other Factors
Your dog’s general health can also determine whether or not they need a winter sweater. Dogs who are elderly or sick are generally more sensitive to extreme temperatures, and may require more insulation. If your pup suffers from arthritis or other joint conditions, a coat can help make them more comfortable.
The amount of time you spend outside and the activity level of your dog will also make a difference. For instance, a dog who is playing and racing around at full speed will stay warmer than a dog going on a leisurely walk.
In general, even if your dog doesn’t need a coat to stay warm, it almost never hurts. A light coat can help even the fluffiest breeds stay dry and clean while playing in the snow on their outdoor adventure.
Signs of Hypothermia in Dogs
If you are playing outside with your dog and notice any of the following warning signs of hypothermia, bring them inside right away. Dry them off with a towel and help them warm up with a blanket.
- Strong shivering and trembling
- Feet, ears and skin cold to the touch
- Rapid breathing or labored breathing
- Lethargy
We also recommend calling your vet to make sure your dog is not suffering from severe symptoms, and to determine whether expert treatment is needed.
You want to choose a pet food that will be healthy and nutritious for your furry family member, but you also want something they’ll enjoy. Reading pet food labels and choosing the right food for your pet is certainly one of the trickiest challenges for pet owners!
Reading Pet Food Labels: The Basics
Step one is to make sure the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) approves the food as a complete and balanced nutritional diet. AAFCO is an organization that sets the nutritional standards for pet foods sold in the US.
Once you know the pet food is approved by the AAFCO, you can start thinking about whether or not it may be the right food for your pet. If your pet is still growing, make sure to find a food that is labeled for either all life stages, or specifically for puppies or kittens.
Puppy or kitten food contains much higher levels of certain nutrients than foods for adult maintenance. For dogs, you should also look for size-specific foods. A fast-growing, large breed dog needs different nutrients than a small dog.
Remember the Difference Between Ingredients and Nutrients
Nutrients are food components that support life and are metabolically useful, while ingredients are the vehicles that provide nutrients. For example, chicken is an ingredient that provides nutrients such as protein, fatty acids, and vitamins.
Also remember that ingredients are listed in descending order by weight, which is why meat is usually listed first. The high water content in meat (chicken, beef, lamb) makes these ingredients weigh more than grains, meals, and vitamins.
What Are the Best and Worst Pet Food Ingredients?
Science tells us that dogs and cats are carnivores by nature, and would consume protein-rich foods such as muscle and organ tissue in the wild. Unfortunately, the vast majority of modern pet foods are grain-based rather than meat-based.
That’s not to say that all grains are bad! Peas, potatoes, beans, oats, and barley can be healthful sources of energy in limited amounts. Likewise, vegetables can provide fiber, minerals and micronutrients.
On the other hand, steer clear of ingredients like ground yellow corn and corn meal. These are cheap filler grains with limited nutritional values. You should also avoid pet foods with artificial coloring and flavoring, which provide no value except making cheap foods look and taste better.
The most nutritious pet foods will list proteins like chicken, beef, eggs and fish as the first ingredients. Note that animal by-products are NOT a quality source of protein; this may include feet, beaks and undeveloped eggs.
How to Use Dry Matter Basis to Compare Pet Foods
One way to ensure that your pet is getting the right nutrients from their food is by checking the Guaranteed Analysis. This is a panel that shows the percentage of protein, fat, fiber and moisture in your pet’s food. These numbers are regulated and guaranteed.
Keep in mind that wet and dry food percentages will be different, so comparing them can seem tricky. However, you can convert wet food to dry matter in order to compare foods.
Let’s say you’re comparing two pet foods: one is a wet canned food that contains 10% protein and the other is a dry food that contains 25% protein. At first glance, it seems that the dry kibble is a much more nutritious choice…but what does the Dry Matter Basis tell us?
In this scenario, the wet food contains 75% moisture and the dry food contains 10% moisture. So we need to remove ALL moisture from both foods in order to accurately compare them.
To find the dry matter content of each food, subtract the moisture percentage (75% for the wet food and 10% for the dry food) from 100%. This gives us a dry matter percentage of 25% and 90%, respectively.
Dry Matter Protein Content = (Protein Percentage / Dry Matter Percentage) x 100
For these two foods, here’s the dry matter protein content:
- Wet food = (10/25) x 100 = 40%
- Dry food = (25/90) x 100 = 27.77%
As you can see, the wet canned food actually has a higher protein content than the dry food! This formula also applies to any other nutrient, not just protein. So if your vet has recommended a low fat or high fiber diet, you can use this formula to compare pet foods.
If you’re still unsure about how to read pet food labels and whether you’re feeding your pet the right food, ask your veterinarian. They can recommend high-quality, nutritious pet foods that they feed their own pets!
Often referred to as low level laser therapy (LLLT), or less accurately as “cold” laser therapy, these lasers are different from surgical lasers. Whereas high-power surgical lasers are used to cut or destroy tissue using a very concentrated beam, low level laser therapy is used to relieve pain and enhance cell function.
How does low level laser therapy work?
Low level lasers penetrate tissues on a cellular level, triggering a reaction that stimulates cell regeneration and boosts the cell’s energy. Increased energy means faster tissue repair and cell growth, leading to desirable results such as pain relief, decreased swelling, and faster healing of wounds and injuries.
Essentially, laser therapy initiates the body’s own healing process. This means that the anti-inflammatory response can continue even after the treatment is over – up to 24 hours after the procedure.
Pets and their owners usually find laser therapy to be an easy, simple and effective treatment. There is no need to sedate your dog or cat before laser therapy, as most pets find the process to be relaxing. Additionally, the area being treated does not need to be shaved or trimmed.
What are the benefits of laser therapy?
Low level laser therapy is a non-invasive, quick and essentially painless treatment for a wide variety of conditions. Even chronic patients can experience improvement after just a few treatments.
Lasers can be used to treat acute conditions such as
- Soft tissue injury
- Surgery recovery
- Wounds
- Bone fractures
- Muscular-skeletal abnormalities
Laser therapy may also be used to treat chronic conditions like:
- Arthritis
- Chronic pain
- Chronic ear infections and skin infections
- Tendon and ligament conditions
- Some neurological issues
The frequency and duration of treatments will depend on the condition being treated, but most treatments take less than 15 minutes. Additionally, most patients can decrease or stop laser treatments over time and still achieve the same results as their body begins to heal itself.
Pet owners may notice signs that their dog or cat is feeling better after laser therapy, such as regaining some mobility, going up the stairs more easily, or acting more playful at home.
If your pet is suffering from an injury or chronic pain, it may be worth incorporating low level laser therapy into their treatment plan. Schedule an appointment with your vet to discuss the possibility of laser therapy for your pet.