How to keep your dog safe in the cold weather?

Yes its true, there are a lot of dangers when it comes to the cold for dogs, the same as it is for us humans. Unless you've got a double coated dog who were originally bred for the cold weather, then our dogs do get cold and can also experience hypothermia.

So how can we go about keeping our dogs safe this winter, and what dangers are they facing?

• Grit and antifreeze - both can be fatal for our dogs and cats should they ingest it. So ensuring we clean their feet after walks, and not allowing them to drink from puddles will be best practice over the winter.

• Frostbite - yes you heard me, frostbite. Our dogs can get it too! Its important that when temperatures are reaching 0 or below that we refrain from walking our dogs on cold surfaces for too long! Especially those with shorter fur. So what can we do? Doggy boots are an option if your dog will wear them! Or just less exposure to the freezing temperatures.

• Hypothermia - As with us, a dog exposed to freezing temperatures for a length of time are more likely to risk hypothermia. Wrapping them up warm when you take them outside is crucial! I myself have the hotterdog fleeces for my boys as dalmatians feel the cold very easily!

If you're in the UK like me you know our winters come hard and fast, and generally last a very long time so make sure you do your best to keep your pets warm!

The above chart from Better Vet is a great guide to go off of to decide whether the weather is appropriate to take your dog out in.