Winter Health Tips for Dogs: Keep Your Pup Warm & Safe

Breeds without much insulation like Greyhounds, small Chihuahuas and older senior dogs often feel the chill, particularly in the early mornings and in cooler southern climates of Victoria, ACT and Tasmania. If you live in the Northern Territory or far North Queensland, you’re allowed to skip reading this one to drop a line, but be croc safe! 

Tips for staying toasty

Have a look at our Cold-weather Prep Guide for Pup Parents for our hot tips on staying toasty. The key take-homes are:

• Pop a fleece-lined coat on your dog for early morning walks

• Shorten walks on windy or frosty mornings

• Dry-off with a towel if your dog gets damp 

Winter aches and stiff joints 

Arthritis is most often thought of as only a disease of older dogs as a natural part of ageing. However, younger dogs may also develop arthritis due to congenital conditions such as hip or elbow dysplasia, or from lifestyle factors like being overweight, repeated injuries or engaging in high-impact activities. Even in mild Australian winters, dogs with arthritis or old injuries may feel stiff in the morning cold. You might notice the quiet signs of arthritis flare ups in them; being slower to rise in the morning, less eager to jump in the car, preferring to toilet inside, or limping after a walk. 

How to help ease arthritis in winter

• Bedding: Provide a warm, comfortable padded bed away from draughts. Memory foam or latex mattresses cradle their joints well, and an anti-slip cover will help provide stability. Snooza make wonderful 100% Aussie made dog beds.

• Nutrition: Ingredients naturally rich in omega-3s such as salmon and green lipped mussel powder help to reduce the chronic inflammatory response to alleviate swelling and pain and slow the progression of arthritis. Understand the importance of an optimal Omega 6:3 ratio in our article here. 

• Maintaining a healthy weight is key to reducing excess pressure on joints, so continue regular gentle exercise, and feed an appropriate amount to improve their mobility. How much should I feed my dog?

• Talk to your vet if your dog is slowing down or seems painful. They can chat with you about anti-inflammatory medications for pain relief and injections to improve mobility 

How do arthritis injections work in dogs?

Your veterinarian may have suggested once-off or a course of injections to help manage and slow down the progression of your dog’s arthritis. These injections work on all joints in the body at the same time to relieve pain by encouraging new cartilage to form on arthritic joints, and also thicken the joint fluid so it is well-lubricated and can glide easier. 

Newer injections on the market use proteins made in a laboratory that mimic a dog’s naturally occurring proteins (‘monoclonal antibodies’) to reduce joint pain and inflammation. 

Arthritis injections are generally considered safe, however there are some reports of dogs experiencing uncommon side effects such as diarrhoea, lethargy, and more serious immune reactions, including bleeding. It is important to discuss options with your veterinarian to assess your individual dog’s needs to balance the potential risks and benefits of each product. 

Antifreeze poisoning

What is antifreeze?

If you live in a particularly frosty area, such as high country, Canberra or Tasmania, you may very well have a bottle of antifreeze, or ethylene glycol, stored in your car garage. Ethylene glycol is a highly toxic chemical that is commonly used to protect car engine fluid from freezing over in cold climates. Unfortunately it has a very sweet taste, so some curious dogs and cats may consume large amounts of it if spilled on the floor. 

Is antifreeze toxic to dogs?

Yes, antifreeze is highly toxic to dogs and cats. It causes a severe blood acidosis if consumed, which results in signs showing within 30 minutes, or up to 12 hours later. The prognosis for dogs and cats that develop kidney failure from antifreeze poisoning is poor.

What are the signs of antifreeze poisoning in dogs?

If you think your dog may have consumed antifreeze, look out for these signs and seek immediate veterinary attention:

• Lethargy and depression progressing to coma

• Rapid breathing 

• Vomiting and/or diarrhoea 

• Drooling

• Seizures

Prognosis depends on the amount ingested and time taken to initiate treatment. The mainstay of treatment is reducing absorption, aggressive fluid therapy and administration of ethanol, so don’t delay seeking veterinary attention!

How to reduce the likelihood of poisoning

• Securely store bottles of antifreeze out of reach

• Clean up leaks of antifreeze immediately and cover the area with sawdust to discourage pets from licking up any small amounts left on the ground

• Use alternative brands, such as products that contain propylene glycol, which are still toxic, but less so, and do not have the sweet taste, so your pets will be less attracted to it.

Dandruff and itchy skin

Wintertime is often when skin disorders like dandruff, hair loss, dull coat, greasy or dry skin coats can pop up in dogs. Bad odours can be especially on-the-nose if baths have been spaced out a little more due to the colder weather. Explore our strategies for Managing Skin Conditions in Dogs. 

Providing a diet rich in essential fatty acids (omega 3 and 6) is the best way to reinforce your dog’s skin barrier function and regulate natural skin oil (sebum) production. Sebum is an oily substance produced by glands in the skin to form a protective skin barrier, which keeps allergy-causing irritants, bacteria and fungal infections away. 

Petzyo’s Salmon & Oceanfish dry kibble formula is a fantastic source of omega fatty acids to help maintain a shiny coat. There are also topical spot-on products available that deliver fatty acids via the skin. Omega fatty acids work to:

• Combat flaking and dandruff

• Hydrate the skin and reinforce skin barrier function

• Reduce hair loss and support hair regrowth

• Promote coat shine

• Deodorise the coat

With a little extra warmth, joint support, skin-nourishing nutrition (and antifreeze safely locked away), you can help your dog stay comfortable, healthy and protected throughout the colder months. If winter gives you anything, it’s an excuse to buy matching jumpers; that’s a winter wellness win-win.