Dogs Trust have issued advice to dog owners to help protect their pooches from the freezing temperatures.
After a fairly mild Christmas for most across, temperatures have plummeted and are set to stay below zero degrees over the coming days.
And the dog welfare charity is issuing guidance to owners about how to keep your pets safe and warm, including how to avoid potential hazards when out for winter walks.
Runa Hanaghan, Deputy Veterinary Surgeon at Dogs Trust, said: "There are lots of simple things you can do to help your dog stay safe and warm during cold weather, however, there are things owners need to watch out for too which may be hazardous for our dogs.
"Winter walks can be a lot of fun, but it’s important to exercise caution when conditions worsen by keeping your dog on a lead and taking steps to improve their visibility with the darker nights."
Antifreeze is highly poisonous to dogs. Keep it well out of their reach and mop up any spills immediately. Always seek veterinary advice if you are concerned your dog may have licked or ingested any.
Never leave your dog in a car during extreme weather, hot or cold.
Make sure you wipe your dog’s legs and feet when you come indoors after a snowy walk. The grit from the roads can irritate their feet. Grit can also be dangerous if your dog licks its paws.
Particularly important if you have a puppy, short-haired or old dog in providing them with a sensible winter coat to stay warm when you go out. Consider letting your dog’s winter coat grow to improve their warmth, it can still be kept brushed and untangled even when it is thicker.
Keep your dog on a lead if it is snowing heavily. Snow can be disorientating so they might easily become lost.
Make sure your dog is microchipped, the contact details are up to date, and your dog is wearing a collar and an ID tag whilst out walking.
As the nights are dark, consider using a reflective collar and lead or a high visibility coat or flashing collar to increase your dog’s visibility in the dark. Owners can use a torch and wear high-vis jackets too.
Do not let your dog walk on frozen ponds. If your dog does fall through the ice never be tempted to go in after them; call the emergency services immediately.
Regularly check that your dog’s leads, collars, and harnesses are all functioning safely and not at risk of wear and tear damage during winter weather.
Snow can freeze between dog’s paws and owners might find ice stuck to the bottom which can be uncomfortable. Rinsing and drying their paws after walks is very important.
If you are spending more time indoors, always make sure your dog has plenty to do – long-lasting tasty chews, or puzzle-toys such as durable food-releasing toys and snuffle mats are useful for giving your dog something enjoyable to do without needing your constant attention.
You can provide entertainment for your dog when parks are closed by walking different ways to your normal route, so they can experience new sights, sounds and smells.
Incorporate training sessions within your walks - take treats with you and reward your dog for doing a trick along each street you walk down. Bring their favourite toy and have a game outside if there is a safe place to do so while they are safely on-lead.
You can play these types of games indoors too – try hiding their toys for them to search for and playing with them as a reward when they find them.
For further information on keeping your dog safe and happy over the winter, visit: www.dogstrust.org.uk/advice.
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