Dog Walking in the Dark – Be Seen, Be Safe, Keep Warm

Dog Walking in the Dark – Be Seen, Be Safe, Keep Warm

Most dog breeds were bred to work for a living and a particular purpose, like hunting, herding or providing protection. Wild dogs scavenge and hunt, care for offspring, defend territory and play with each other. They lead busy, complex lives, interacting socially and solving simple problems necessary for their survival.

Modern “pet” dogs no longer receive this level of stimulation and spend much of their time confined, alone and/or inactive. As a dog owner, you have a responsibility to fill this void.

Many of the dogs seen by The Way of The Dog have behavioural issues that are a consequence of lack of stimulation, interaction and daily exercise. This is most prevalent in the winter months, when dark mornings and evenings combine with cold (and often wet) weather to dissuade dog owners from providing the quality of exercise their dog requires. Every dog needs good quality daily exercise; this is a basic fact of dog ownership and should have been considered when bringing a dog into your life.

Lack of daylight and adverse weather conditions should not affect the levels of exercise you give your dog.

Be Seen, Stay Safe, Keep Warm

Staying safe on dark walks is as simple as being visible, being aware and wrapping up warm. Here are a few of our tips to help you and your dog stay safe and warm on your winter walks.

Be Seen

  • Use a Hi-Vis reflective or led light lead and collar on your dog.
  • Wear a Hi-Vis reflective vest over your coat.
  • Carry a torch or use a headlamp.
  • Avoid unlit roads.
  • Avoid roads that have no pavement.
  • If you cannot avoid roads without a pavement, walk on the right hand side (towards the traffic) with your dog to your right (on the opposite side to the traffic).

Be Safe

  • Keep your dog on the lead.
  • Use well lit walks that you are familiar with.
  • Consider taking your dog in the car to a well lit safe area.
  • Do you have a neighbour with a dog? Arrange to walk together.
  • Remain aware of your surroundings; leave your headphones at home.
  • Carry a mobile phone

Keep Warm

  • Bad weather requires appropriate clothing; a warm waterproof jacket, waterproof overtrousers, warm sturdy footwear, a hat and a good pair of gloves are the bare essentials.
  • It is our experience that the best quality outdoor coat and boots should be purchased according to your budget.
  • Consider your dog’s breed, age and health to decide if they require additional insulation.
  • Keep moving; if you stand still you’ll feel the chill.

Other Winter Considerations

We have previously written an article that outlines some of the hazards to your dog’s safety and wellbeing in winter, which can be viewed at www.thewayofthedog.co.uk/winter-care-for-dogs/. We’d recommend that you read this as some of the points raised could save your dog’s life.

The Alternatives

If you still feel unable to give your dog the exercise and stimulation it needs, there are a few things you could consider.

  • Finding a way to change the times that you walk your dog.
  • Enlisting the help of family members and friends.
  • Employing a reputable, licensed, 1 to 1 dog walker.
  • Rehoming your dog.

Article by Heppiness

Winter Care for Dogs

Winter Care for Dogs

Winter is a fabulous time to take your dog out for a walk; the fresh air will do you both good. But as the mercury drops in the thermometer, certain health hazards are created that every dog owner needs to be aware of.

At The Way of the Dog, we do not aim to sensationalise issues or scaremonger. Our articles are focused on our experiences in dog world and informing dog owners of how best to maintain the health and wellbeing of their canine friend. This article is intended to inform you of possible risks to your dog’s health.

Dog Health Hazards in Winter

Anti-Freeze

A common winter related ailment in dogs is anti-freeze poisoning. Anti-freeze contains the toxin ethylene glycol, which is sweet and irresistible to dogs. They’ll lick up drips from leaking car coolant systems and brake systems or drink from contaminated puddles and other water sources.

It does not take a significant amount of ethylene glycol to cause fatal damage to a dog, as low as 2-3ml per pound of the dog’s weight.

Dog owners should:

  • NEVER decant anti-freeze into another container.
  • Store anti-freeze in a secure place with lids securely closed.
  • Check cars for leaks and if found get them fixed.
  • Check their driveways, parking spaces and garages for contamination.
  • Use a funnel when topping up anti-freeze to reduce spills.
  • Dispose of old/unused anti-freeze at an approved waste management facility.

Anti-freeze poisoning occurs in two phases. In the first phase, the animal typically appears lethargic, disoriented, uncoordinated and groggy. Symptoms usually appear 30 minutes to one hour after ingestion and can last for several hours.

The second phase, which can last up to three days, is characterized by symptoms such as vomiting, oral and gastric ulcers, kidney failure, coma and death.

For dogs exposed to antifreeze, the first few hours are critical. They should see a vet as soon as antifreeze ingestion is suspected.

Rock Salt

Rock salt used to grit roads and paths in winter can be a danger to dogs if they lick it from their paws or fur. Even small amounts of pure salt can be dangerous, but the exact quantities of salt in rock salt are variable. Most cases are a result of a dog licking it’s paws and fur after walking through a salted area. The salt irritates the skin and paws and the dog is simply attempting to remove the irritation.

Dog owners should:

  • Avoid using rock salt in areas their dogs walk in their own gardens.
  • Avoid heavily salted areas in public.
  • Rinse and dry their dog after winter walks (always rinse down the body and legs, pay attention to and in-between pads).
  • Be aware of excessive paw licking after a winter walk.

Ingestion can result in a high blood sodium concentration which can cause thirst, vomiting and lethargy, and in severe cases there is a risk of convulsions and kidney damage.

Any dog suspected to have ingested rock salt must be seen by a vet.

The Cold

Older dogs, small breed dogs, dogs with short fur and puppies can be especially sensitive to the cold weather. Dogs with diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, or hormonal imbalances may have a harder time regulating their body temperature, and may be more susceptible to problems from temperature extremes. In addition, all dogs can be susceptible to frostbite and hypothermia if conditions are cold enough and/or the length of exposure is long enough.

Dog owners should:

  • Assess the type and age of dog and it’s susceptibility to the cold by consulting a vet.
  • Purchase and use suitable protection based on this assessment.
  • Monitor their dog regularly when exercising them in cold weather.
  • NEVER leave your dog outside unsupervised without a heated shelter.

If your pet is whining, shivering, seems anxious, slows down or stops moving, seems weak, or starts looking for warm places to burrow, get them back inside quickly because they are showing signs of hypothermia. Frostbite is harder to detect, and may not be fully recognized until a few days after the damage is done.

If you suspect your dog has hypothermia or frostbite, consult your vet immediately.

Snow

Many dogs love a bit of snow. The mixture of curiosity and the sensations involved can lead many dogs to appear excited and exuberant. This maybe the case, but snow can also conceal a few doggy perils.

Whilst many of the risks posed by snow to a dog’s wellbeing are the result of the cold, there are a few extra points to consider.

Dog owners should:

  • Cut the hair between a dogs pads. These hairs trap snow that can ball into a small ice-cube nestled between the pads. If your dog refuses to move or appears lame on a snowy day, check pads first.
  • Remove snow and ice build up from a dog’s pads, legs and under carriage regularly to prevent it freezing to ice as this becomes painful.
  • If this snow build up becomes ice, remove with a warm (not hot) damp cloth.
  • Be aware of snow drifts, banks and cornices.
  • Monitor their dog regularly when exercising them in the snow.

If you suspect your dog has hypothermia or frostbite, consult your vet immediately.

Ice

When walking your dog, stay away from frozen ponds, lakes and other water. Dogs will often attempt to walk on ice with no concept of the thickness of ice or there being water below. If they were to fall through the ice, some breeds of dog will succumb to the effects of the cold and then drown in a matter of seconds.

Dog owners should:

  • Avoid areas with frozen bodies of water.
  • If in the vicinity of a frozen body of water, keep your dog on a lead.
  • If your dog ventures onto a frozen body of water, coax them back without causing panic.
  • If your dog falls through ice, attempt to coax them back to land or use material nearby to provide an aid to exiting the water (buoyancy aids, a fallen branch, a fence panel, etc).
  • If you retrieve your dog, get them dry and warm as soon as possible.
  • NEVER enter the water to rescue your dog. More than 50 per cent of ice-related drownings involved an attempted rescue of another person or a dog (ROSPA).

If your dog has entered a frozen body of water and you suspect your dog has hypothermia or any other ailments, consult your vet immediately.

Enjoy the Winter Together

I know, it sounds like we’ve got our health and safety clipboard out and banned you and your dog having any fun together in the winter; this isn’t the case.

At The Way of the Dog we actively encourage the (at least) daily exercising of your dog, whatever the weather. Follow the points we’ve made and you will have minimised any risk to your dog’s health and wellbeing during one of the most spectacular times of the year.

Contribution by Heppiness
Image credits Scott Costello Flikr

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