ANIMAL CARE: Thousands of our readers reside in North America, a region that experiences severe winters.

Many of our supporters live in Northern Europe endures long and bone-crunching winters. I lived in Latvia in winter where temperatures plummeted to – 27C

Veterinarian Shelyakov explained how to protect a dog from hypothermia in cold weather.

The most dangerous time for walking dogs isn’t during severe frost. Instead, it’s when temperatures are around 0°C and accompanied by sleet or rain. This is according to Mikhail Shelyakov, a top-category veterinarian.

‘This is the most dangerous weather period… It’s slightly below zero, 0 °C…-2°C…

This kind of weather is usually accompanied by heavy rainfall. Wet wool, or soaked wool, practically loses its thermal insulation properties at zero. The expert explained this.

The animal expert clarified that in such weather, many dogs need special clothing. This is especially true for small breeds. Such clothing should be purchased at a pet store and made to fit properly.

It should fit snugly, with no internal seams. As for shoes, the pet should be accustomed to them in advance by letting them wear them around the house.

‘Slippers or other footwear need to be tried on animals. If we just put them on and go outside, our dog will start slipping and losing its balance. It needs to be able to walk confidently,’ Shelyakov noted.

To protect paws from chemicals, the doctor also mentioned products such as special protective creams or wax. However, he emphasized that their use does not replace the need to wash paws after every walk.

‘If we use protective products like these creams and ointments, we might hope to wash our paws less. However, we’ll wash them just the same, just as often,’ he shared.

The specialist identified signs of hypothermia in dogs as trembling, drawing in paws, and a hunched back. In a critical situation, these signs include lethargy, a glassy gaze, and poor response to commands.

‘At the first sign of discomfort outside. We see that the dog asks to go inside or tucks its paws in. Your dog is saying, it’s better, of course, to turn around and go home,’ the veterinarian added.

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