Dog owners have been warned of the dangers of going outside for their usual walks amid the cold blast. The UK has been swept by the first ice and snow of the winter, with temperatures plummeting below zero.
Thursday night saw the coldest temperatures recorded so far this winter as yellow and amber weather alerts continue to stay in place. Some have even seen temperatures drop to as low as -11°C . Yellow ice warnings have been issued in the north of Scotland, along the east coast of England, in Kent, Cornwall, and on the north and west coasts of Wales.
Some major cities caught up in the Met Office‘s warnings are Newcastle, Norwich and Aberdeen. As the nation wraps up warm, dog owners have also been urged to keep an eye on their pets.
Many will be hoping to take their dogs out for their usual walks and enjoy the crisp, fresh air. However, there does come a point where it becomes unsafe for dogs to be out in the cold.
Like us, every dog is different in how they cope with the icy blast. Some dogs are much more able to cope, while others struggle with even a slight chill.
Dogs who struggle with the cold tend to have a thin coat and prefer to be snuggled in blankets. They might find even 5°C hard and if they do show any signs they are struggling, try putting them in dog coats, shorten your walks or even stay indoors.
Small dogs, puppies, elderly dogs and slim breeds might find zero the temperature they start to struggle at. If it reaches zero and your dog falls within this catergory, it is recommended you give a walk a miss.
When temperatures drop as low as -4°C and beyond, it is said walks should be skipped. With such low temperatues comes health risks to dogs that would be preventable if they stayed indoors.
If they spent too much time outside in the cold, they could even suffer hypothermia, frostbite and cracked paws, pads or noses. You will be able to notice if your dog is struggling with the cold through signs.
They might shiver, whine, not want to move, hold their paws up, seek warmth or act disorientated. If you spot any of these signs, you need to get your dog home and warm they up safely.
When temperatures are still cold but safe for dogs to still go out, you can do things to keep them warm. It is recommended slim and thin coated dogs wear a jacket.
Getting them to run and play can also help as movement will generate body heat. But if your dog isn’t used to the cold or clearly doesn’t like it, keep the walks short until they adapt to it.
It is recommended dog walks are kept to the warmest parts of the day, typically between 11am and 3pm during the winter. If in any doubt your dog is struggling with the cold and may have hypothermia, take them to the vet straight away.
