Keeping Your Dog Safe in Ontario During the Winter

By James Hunt

March 8th, 2022

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Winters in Ontario can be extremely harsh, with temperatures often dropping well below freezing for weeks on end. While it’s important to keep yourself safe during the winter in Ontario, what you might not know how to do is keep your pets safe. Here are four things you need to keep an eye out for.

Ice-melting Salt and Chemicals

Often, individuals use rock salt and chemicals on ice in their driveways and sidewalks to melt that ice, allowing them to drive and walk on it more easily. While these chemicals and salt aren’t typically dangerous to humans, they can hurt your pet’s paws and can cause them problems if consumed. When you take your pets outside, consider putting booties on their feet, and washing their paws when you bring them back inside.

Walking During Snowstorms

If visibility is poor when walking your dog, like in a snowstorm, it’s important to keep your dog leashed at all times, ideally with a very short leash. Dogs can get easily distracted by all sorts of things during a snowstorm, and the last thing you want is to lose track of your dog during the storm. A traffic leash, which is an extra loop on a leash near the dog’s collar, can be a great tool during a snowstorm, especially if you’re walking near traffic.

Frostbite and Other Cold-weather Health Issues

The cold weather can have a negative impact on the health of your pets, and it’s important to keep an eye out. Dr. Sarah Machell, the Medical Director for Vetster, says, “Always watch for signs of frostbite, which include skin that appears white or blue, especially on earflaps.” While a pet’s body might be warm enough to protect from frostbite on average, their extremities, just like humans, can be at a much higher risk of frostbite.

Chapped Paws and Skin

The cold may chap paws and skin on your pet. Even if your pet doesn’t spend enough time outside that they get frostbite, they can still end up with chapped paws and skin because of how dry the air might be when it’s this cold. You can combat this by having a humidifier in your home and by using pet-safe lotion on your pet’s paws and exposed skin. If you’re noticing very extreme chapping and itchy skin, you can talk to a veterinarian about other options for keeping your dog’s skin moisturized.

Keep Your Dog Safe in the Winter

The process of keeping your pet safe is an important element of living in Ontario with a dog. It’s important that you talk to a veterinarian in Ontario if you start to notice any health concerns during the winter. A veterinarian can help you understand what you need to do to keep your dog as safe as possible, even if you’re not able to take your dog out on walks due to the cold. This way, you and your dog can stay safe and healthy during the winter.

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