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COLD WEATHER TOOTSIES and Distress...Watch
PLEASE watch your dogs very close when you let them out! Well for me this AM was interesting. VERY COLD HERE. This all happened within 2 minutes or less....My two older dogs before they were done with their whole walk around in 10 billion circles to poop had gotten to cold to walk back so I ended up carrying them back to the porch this morning. Lady is my smallest at ~35 pounds now, Koenig my rottie mix is about 70 pounds a little harder to carry. Caesar my Dane is around 165 pounds. Thank goodness he didn't have the same problem. I was thinking hmmmm...O MY I better have the creeper ready to drag him. LOL He missed playing ball this AM but it's just too cold at 4 degrees. Glad to say everyone's tootsies are fine.
I'm thinking about trying to find an old flyer sled or a plastic one for Caesar in case this ever happens to him. He's only 2 years old now; but, it may come in handy later in years. Hopefully not this year though. Temps are supposed to drop more in the next two days. Tomorrow zero to -2 with wind chill factors of 10 - 20 below zero. OUCH!
PLEASE again I'll say: WATCH YOUR DOGS very CLOSE for ANY SIGNS of DISTRESS! Not only toes are an issue but heart, breathing and everything is effected. It don't take long with cold temps.
Also when they come in you should remove any snow and ice packed in their paws.
I'm thinking about trying to find an old flyer sled or a plastic one for Caesar in case this ever happens to him. He's only 2 years old now; but, it may come in handy later in years. Hopefully not this year though. Temps are supposed to drop more in the next two days. Tomorrow zero to -2 with wind chill factors of 10 - 20 below zero. OUCH!
PLEASE again I'll say: WATCH YOUR DOGS very CLOSE for ANY SIGNS of DISTRESS! Not only toes are an issue but heart, breathing and everything is effected. It don't take long with cold temps.
Also when they come in you should remove any snow and ice packed in their paws.
I'm going to look into Mushers Secret myself. The vet I used to work for does runs in Alaska and all over. I'm sure she will know where to find it. I'll have to give her a ring. Thank you for the post. Normally it hasn't been this cold in years so it wasn't an issue for years and years here. Thank you for the comment.
I'm glad you posted this. My girl had problems with the cold temps too. The other morning it was -10 and she practically crawled back to the house. I remembered her boots then and felt pretty stupid. So she's been wearing boots and her doggy coat. She still makes it a quick trip but her feet aren't hurting her at least, and cleaning the snow off her is much easier. I'll have to try the Mushers Secret. I rubbed vaseline into her pads two nights ago because they had gotten so dry and crusty. It seemed to help a little, but after reading this, I guess I could have used bagbalm as well and maybe got better results. Next time. Thanks again!
Jaybay Hi. That is just too funny. I remember my one dog "Hope" (pictured in my pictures, she weighed over 100 #s then) went sliding down the hill one time on top of the ice. (There was about 8 inches of snow under the ice.) What a chore it was getting her back up to the house. From then on out I tested it first and then would either let them out on their own or leach walk them myself depending on conditions.
I'll never forget when I went ice skating on top of the snow and down over the hill threw the trees. LOL Not one of the smartest things to do maybe but it was a blast. One of my crazier years. LOL
lynxgal Hi. No wonder your dogs feet are so cold. Ouch. And I thought we had it rough here.
To Me.....I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL SPRING! I can't say that enough. Take care all.
I'll never forget when I went ice skating on top of the snow and down over the hill threw the trees. LOL Not one of the smartest things to do maybe but it was a blast. One of my crazier years. LOL
lynxgal Hi. No wonder your dogs feet are so cold. Ouch. And I thought we had it rough here.
To Me.....I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL SPRING! I can't say that enough. Take care all.
To Me: Thank you for the welcome. Your property sounds nice. It has finally warmed up here -15c our deepfreeze is finally over! Our coldest day this week was -37c and with the windchill -42c. Bah!
To Jaybay: too funny.
To Jaybay: too funny.
I grew up in Kansas and January was when the snow really got going up there - usually with a layer of ice on the bottom or top making for a slippery crust. Not fun to walk through going to school. :-\
Our family cat liked to go outdoors once a day and take a stroll around the yard. We got one of those below zero spells and several inches of snow, so it was days of indoor living for the cat. She started going nuts screaming at the door, so Dad said, "All right you - go on and see how you like it!" He opened the front door, the cat leaped out to the front porch and... disappeared. She looked like a gymnast coming back in with the mid-air turnaround, and the whole thing start to finish took about two seconds. No other marks in the snow than the landing spot, and no more yowling to get out. LOL!
Our family cat liked to go outdoors once a day and take a stroll around the yard. We got one of those below zero spells and several inches of snow, so it was days of indoor living for the cat. She started going nuts screaming at the door, so Dad said, "All right you - go on and see how you like it!" He opened the front door, the cat leaped out to the front porch and... disappeared. She looked like a gymnast coming back in with the mid-air turnaround, and the whole thing start to finish took about two seconds. No other marks in the snow than the landing spot, and no more yowling to get out. LOL!
Hi and welcome to the dog forum.
Mine are able to make it for only about 2 minutes. My Dane keeps trying to run down to the bottom of the yard but is not allowed until it warms up. He will be very happy when Spring comes too. LOL The other 2 older dogs I can carry back.
Very steep hill and a very large dog don't match in this minus 17 with wind chill temps. Tomorrow it might go the whole way up to 25 F. Bo Wha.. LOL
Plus I have a small creek at the bottom of the yard with a 5 foot depth in the middle. It's really nice in Spring, Summer and Fall; but, could be deadly in the winter.
Mine are able to make it for only about 2 minutes. My Dane keeps trying to run down to the bottom of the yard but is not allowed until it warms up. He will be very happy when Spring comes too. LOL The other 2 older dogs I can carry back.
Very steep hill and a very large dog don't match in this minus 17 with wind chill temps. Tomorrow it might go the whole way up to 25 F. Bo Wha.. LOL
Plus I have a small creek at the bottom of the yard with a 5 foot depth in the middle. It's really nice in Spring, Summer and Fall; but, could be deadly in the winter.
You know it's COLD when your husky mix goes out and does her business in less the 3 mins and wants right back in!
available in Canada and Europe!!!! Absolutly amazing....just super greasy and not the best smelling... that's for the nights that end in a hot bath, bag balg and flanel PJ's!!! Wake up the next morning and your skin is ridiculously soft. =)
Great comment on the bag balm. I use this myself. I did not realize it was available all over the US though and all around. Fantastic stuff isn't it? I swear by it myself. ;~)
ahhh yes! my love affair with bagbalm started many years ago as i have always insisted on being barefoot anytime it was at all possible during the summer.... nowadays i apply it almost all over my body once a week or so to help cope with the winter dry skin....
i love how this post turned into skin tips =) i will give Aquaphor a try... sounds a little more convinient then bagbalm
i love how this post turned into skin tips =) i will give Aquaphor a try... sounds a little more convinient then bagbalm
I used to swear by Bag Balm for any chapped skin - be it mine or my dogs. After a motorcycle trip to Red River, NM at 7,000 feet to 11,000 feet, my face was fried. That's when I discovered Aquaphor, and it's my new best friend in the winter months or if I have a sunburn. It feels really weird - like vaseline - when you apply it, but in a few seconds it soaks right in with no greasy residue. Get a small sample some time and give it a try.
thank you so much for the site, i will check it out and probably end up ordering it. I'm going to assume we cant get it in Quebec because there is no french on the package..... lol how depressing is that? =P
Bag Balm works well on chapped paws, but for actually keeping the snow from clumping on them, the Musher's Secret is a lot better. The two things have almost the same consistency, but Bag Balm is actually a salve, while Musher's Secret is a combination of food-grade WAXES that form a seal on the bottom of the paw, and that's why it works so well. If you go to www.musherssecret.net it will explain everything. :)
Ghilly
Ghilly
what a great suggestion!
do you have any clue if BAGBALM is along the same lines as that? alot of people here suggest that for protection against not only the cold but salt as well... i've tried it a couple of times.... doesnt seem to make a HUGE difference but it's very possible i didnt apply it properly
anyone have any experience with that?
do you have any clue if BAGBALM is along the same lines as that? alot of people here suggest that for protection against not only the cold but salt as well... i've tried it a couple of times.... doesnt seem to make a HUGE difference but it's very possible i didnt apply it properly
anyone have any experience with that?
Great idea Ghilly! My cousin in Seguin raises cattle dogs and her son is a hunt guide who has 5 hog dogs. Musher's Secret sounds like a great product for them to try, and I don't recall ever seeing any out at their place.
Ghilly and I live in the coastal plains of Texas, and the dog-in-truck accidents are legion here. i'm beyond counting the number of offenders I've personally confonted. Most are really polite about it and if there is room in the cab, they go right on and move the dog(s). If you've ever seen a dog smashed on a very busy freeway - particular the kind with the concrete barriers - and wonder how it got there, well now you know. Some eejit thought it looked cool to have their dog ride in the pickup bed and it jumped out and got hit.
Oddly enough, dogs who are raised in rural agricultural areas seem to "get it." I don't know if it's because their owners start them out that way as as puppies and they got used to riding around the property before getting into town. We go to Bandera and environs once or twice a year, and nearly every pickup has a dog or two in the bed. Their owners take care of business in a store (or bar!) and no way will those dogs leave until the owner tells them to.
That brings to mind one of the most beautiful sights I ever saw in that general area - near Willow City. (Ever been through there Ghilly?) There's a good mix of cattle and sheep and we came round a slow corner to see about 20 sheep hanging out under some trees. I did a double take on the headcount when I realized 4 of the "sheep" were actually Great Pyrenees (sp?!) dogs doing their jobs guarding the flock. It's really a thing of beauty to see a dog doing the job he was bred to do.
Ghilly and I live in the coastal plains of Texas, and the dog-in-truck accidents are legion here. i'm beyond counting the number of offenders I've personally confonted. Most are really polite about it and if there is room in the cab, they go right on and move the dog(s). If you've ever seen a dog smashed on a very busy freeway - particular the kind with the concrete barriers - and wonder how it got there, well now you know. Some eejit thought it looked cool to have their dog ride in the pickup bed and it jumped out and got hit.
Oddly enough, dogs who are raised in rural agricultural areas seem to "get it." I don't know if it's because their owners start them out that way as as puppies and they got used to riding around the property before getting into town. We go to Bandera and environs once or twice a year, and nearly every pickup has a dog or two in the bed. Their owners take care of business in a store (or bar!) and no way will those dogs leave until the owner tells them to.
That brings to mind one of the most beautiful sights I ever saw in that general area - near Willow City. (Ever been through there Ghilly?) There's a good mix of cattle and sheep and we came round a slow corner to see about 20 sheep hanging out under some trees. I did a double take on the headcount when I realized 4 of the "sheep" were actually Great Pyrenees (sp?!) dogs doing their jobs guarding the flock. It's really a thing of beauty to see a dog doing the job he was bred to do.
I HATE it when I see a pickup driving down the road with a dog in the back. They make me SO NERVOUS when I see them! I keep thinking that all it would take is to see another animal or something that appeals to them and they'd be off and running! I mean, they're DOGS, fercryinoutloud! They don't have the ability to rationalize what being in a moving truck means!!
To everyone who lives in a cold, snowy climate, there is a product available that is WONDERFUL for those days when your dog has to be out in the snow. It's called "Musher's Secret", and it's a salve that comes in a little metal pot thingy that you put on their feet before they go outside. It prevents the snow from forming those little balls on their feet that make it difficult for them to walk, and it helps to keep their feet warmer as well, since it's basically a petroleum jelly-like substance. It prevents the ice and snow from actually coming into contact with the paw pads, so it REALLY comes in handy for those days when your dog has to be outside for a while, despite the weather. It's available in well-stocked pet stores, and if you Google "Musher's Secret" you'll come up with a bunch of links where you can purchase it from. I've even used it in the summer down here in S. Texas when it gets really hot out. It's great protection from ALL elements, and it keeps their pads soft and pliable and in great shape!
Ghilly
To everyone who lives in a cold, snowy climate, there is a product available that is WONDERFUL for those days when your dog has to be out in the snow. It's called "Musher's Secret", and it's a salve that comes in a little metal pot thingy that you put on their feet before they go outside. It prevents the snow from forming those little balls on their feet that make it difficult for them to walk, and it helps to keep their feet warmer as well, since it's basically a petroleum jelly-like substance. It prevents the ice and snow from actually coming into contact with the paw pads, so it REALLY comes in handy for those days when your dog has to be outside for a while, despite the weather. It's available in well-stocked pet stores, and if you Google "Musher's Secret" you'll come up with a bunch of links where you can purchase it from. I've even used it in the summer down here in S. Texas when it gets really hot out. It's great protection from ALL elements, and it keeps their pads soft and pliable and in great shape!
Ghilly
I've never understood how people leave their dogs in the beds of their pickups.... it happens RARELY around here but i always wonder "would it not be so easy for instinct to kick in and have them jump out to go after a cat or something?" how often do dogs around there get hurt from such incidents?
Poo patrol.... hahaha omg.. that brought back to many memories (not especially great ones hehe) of last spring, when my brand new boyfriend offered to help me pick up after the dogs... thing is i had been fostering 2 dogs all winter.... plus my 2 dogs... lol... he had NO idea what he was getting himself into, we picked up a garbage bag and a half of yuck! lol not bad, especially for a guy that wasnt crazy about dogs to begin with =P he's a keeper
as for boots... lol they are amazing... if your dog is SUPER tolerant... i've had a pair kicking around for years that i've tried on a few different dogs and they always freeze and look at me like "are you serious?" then they run around like a circus horse.... lol funny but not nice for them =) i'm sure with alot of patience they would get better with it.
I'm sure today we'll be comming home to a mess as the shepherd couldnt tough it outside for long enough to do everything. She gets alot of lenience with that though as last year around this time of year she ran away with my other dog and was gone for 16 hrs. the other dog was found (he had been hit) on a highway about 27kms away and there were many reports from the police and from local shelters saying that there was a shepherd lying down with him for at least three hours (judging by the times of the calls) the range of temp. when she was gone was from
-14 to -23.... (she was 8months old at the time) when we went to get my lab off the highway she was gone... and showed up back at our house a few hours after....
her pads took alot of bandaging and creams and everything and since then she's a collasal wuss with the cold.... das is ok, she is lucky! Although there is no permanent physical damage i think that she associates the cold with that experience.. so we let her get away with...
brrrr.... t'is cold... hope everyone is coping well!!!!
Poo patrol.... hahaha omg.. that brought back to many memories (not especially great ones hehe) of last spring, when my brand new boyfriend offered to help me pick up after the dogs... thing is i had been fostering 2 dogs all winter.... plus my 2 dogs... lol... he had NO idea what he was getting himself into, we picked up a garbage bag and a half of yuck! lol not bad, especially for a guy that wasnt crazy about dogs to begin with =P he's a keeper
as for boots... lol they are amazing... if your dog is SUPER tolerant... i've had a pair kicking around for years that i've tried on a few different dogs and they always freeze and look at me like "are you serious?" then they run around like a circus horse.... lol funny but not nice for them =) i'm sure with alot of patience they would get better with it.
I'm sure today we'll be comming home to a mess as the shepherd couldnt tough it outside for long enough to do everything. She gets alot of lenience with that though as last year around this time of year she ran away with my other dog and was gone for 16 hrs. the other dog was found (he had been hit) on a highway about 27kms away and there were many reports from the police and from local shelters saying that there was a shepherd lying down with him for at least three hours (judging by the times of the calls) the range of temp. when she was gone was from
-14 to -23.... (she was 8months old at the time) when we went to get my lab off the highway she was gone... and showed up back at our house a few hours after....
her pads took alot of bandaging and creams and everything and since then she's a collasal wuss with the cold.... das is ok, she is lucky! Although there is no permanent physical damage i think that she associates the cold with that experience.. so we let her get away with...
brrrr.... t'is cold... hope everyone is coping well!!!!
COMMUNITY LEADER
Nah! She just runs barefoot. Her pads are hard though, she's always out, always walking and running, doesn't care what the weather's doing. Makes me go out in horrible twilight rain more than I like. If she gets a LEAF stuck to her foot, she acts like a complete eejit on amphetamines! I can't begin to IMAGINE what she'd do with boots on!
Jaybay hey thanks for the pin up. Yes poo control for me is buckets after the snow melts. Ya. There are actually people that make alot of money on pooper scooper control. Not a job I would want though. LOL
I can understand in Texas with the burn issues. When I was down toward Sweetwater Tx. my dogs had issues with yucca plants and cactus needles from chases lizards. Poor crazy babies. LOL I thought they would learn not to chase them; but, they couldn't resist.
Take care and again thank you very much for the pin up.
I can understand in Texas with the burn issues. When I was down toward Sweetwater Tx. my dogs had issues with yucca plants and cactus needles from chases lizards. Poor crazy babies. LOL I thought they would learn not to chase them; but, they couldn't resist.
Take care and again thank you very much for the pin up.
Negative 32 roxy. OUCH! And I thought -10 to 20 was bad. That sounds really painful. Using a rug or runner is a good idea. I done that with my pitt/rottie mix. With her it was an issue with Myesthenia Gravis though were she could not walk and in cold weather it was alot worse.
ginger you are just so kind. Thank you for your kindness. Does your dog were boots for her runs. My dogs don't seem to like them. They have there own little leather coats though with sheepskin colors. Not spoiled a bit though. hee hee hee :-)
ginger you are just so kind. Thank you for your kindness. Does your dog were boots for her runs. My dogs don't seem to like them. They have there own little leather coats though with sheepskin colors. Not spoiled a bit though. hee hee hee :-)
Great info on this thread - thanks to everyone for their suggestions. I've asked the Powers-that-Be to pin it for a few weeks until the cold weather abates.
Here in the South, we worry more about footpad burns. So many people here let their dogs run loose in the beds of their pickups, and it results in pad burns, eye damage and worst case: a dog run over on the freeway.
I've always wondered how many people up north in snow country put boots on their dogs for outings. Anyone? Poo patrol has got to be a mess when the snow melts. Yikes!
Here in the South, we worry more about footpad burns. So many people here let their dogs run loose in the beds of their pickups, and it results in pad burns, eye damage and worst case: a dog run over on the freeway.
I've always wondered how many people up north in snow country put boots on their dogs for outings. Anyone? Poo patrol has got to be a mess when the snow melts. Yikes!
COMMUNITY LEADER
This is a really thoughtful post. Things some people wouldn't so easily remember to do, and DEFINITELY when you are getting such extreme cold there! -32 in montreal qc doesn't even bear thinking about!
Hi all. I'm glad to see that the post is getting recognized. I put this in a journal but no one seems to really notice them there. Most people think about the dangers in the hot summer heat but don't think of the dangers in the winter. We have a creek in bottom section of our yard and when it's covered with ice and snow we really have to watch so that they don't break threw. I use regular table salt on our back step and sidewalk. I'm always afraid they are going to break a bone by slipping on the ice.
Not to sound gloomy but: There is antifreeze poisoning (1 tsp./ 2 pounds of body weight is all it takes to lose them) , rock salt that irritates their footpads should be cleaned and dried (a thin layer of petroleum jelly helps against cracking), hypothermia in which can interfer with the normal functions of the body and result in injury or death, carbon monoxide poisoning from an engine left running while people run into a store. Animals are also just as likely to get dehydrated in the winter as in the summer (sometimes even easier), heart issues and respiratory issues are taxed in animals the same as with people and the older they get, the worse it gets due to circulation issues and along those lines, arthritis is worse during cold and damp weather, so a nice soft bed inside would be nice. So if you walk out and the cold takes your breath away, remember their no different than you, and of course there's frostbite in which is why I posted this in the first place. Sorry I just realized I was writing a book again. LOL
Thank you for your comments. It would be nice to try to keep this information up top during this cold wave that seems to be pretty bad this year for most no matter where you live.
Most of it is common since but, you would be surprised the things humans forget about. LOL Signed by my fur babies. ;-)
Not to sound gloomy but: There is antifreeze poisoning (1 tsp./ 2 pounds of body weight is all it takes to lose them) , rock salt that irritates their footpads should be cleaned and dried (a thin layer of petroleum jelly helps against cracking), hypothermia in which can interfer with the normal functions of the body and result in injury or death, carbon monoxide poisoning from an engine left running while people run into a store. Animals are also just as likely to get dehydrated in the winter as in the summer (sometimes even easier), heart issues and respiratory issues are taxed in animals the same as with people and the older they get, the worse it gets due to circulation issues and along those lines, arthritis is worse during cold and damp weather, so a nice soft bed inside would be nice. So if you walk out and the cold takes your breath away, remember their no different than you, and of course there's frostbite in which is why I posted this in the first place. Sorry I just realized I was writing a book again. LOL
Thank you for your comments. It would be nice to try to keep this information up top during this cold wave that seems to be pretty bad this year for most no matter where you live.
Most of it is common since but, you would be surprised the things humans forget about. LOL Signed by my fur babies. ;-)
i'm so glad you posted this!
today in montreal qc we faced -32 degrees.... too cold to even get to the car without bundling up properly!
my girls (shepherd and dane) did NOT enjoy this temperature. the shepherd who is about 60lbs lasted for about 2 minutes before the paw dance started and she got carried in.... ran back out.... carried back in... this went on until she FINALLY did her stuff and got carried back in for the last time! the dane thought she was super tough so decided to go to the end of our property to do her stuff and realized about 40 feet from the house that yes.... it is.. INDEED a little chilly. what i've done for her, (and it sounds SOOO silly but you know what, i wouldnt have done very well out there this morning bare foot) is get little runner carpets ( i have 3 for her and it seems to be perfect) and just lay them one infront of the other until she gets back to the porch! when she stands on the first one i clean all the snow and ice out of her paws and warm them up a bit with my hands then she does the walk back no problem! i really REALLY suggest this! When they go out (especially first thing in the morning) they are so excited they dont notice the cold until it's pretty serious....
It's so good you brought up the heart and lung issue.... i didnt make the connection but it makes so much sense!!!
thank you so much for posting this!!!!
today in montreal qc we faced -32 degrees.... too cold to even get to the car without bundling up properly!
my girls (shepherd and dane) did NOT enjoy this temperature. the shepherd who is about 60lbs lasted for about 2 minutes before the paw dance started and she got carried in.... ran back out.... carried back in... this went on until she FINALLY did her stuff and got carried back in for the last time! the dane thought she was super tough so decided to go to the end of our property to do her stuff and realized about 40 feet from the house that yes.... it is.. INDEED a little chilly. what i've done for her, (and it sounds SOOO silly but you know what, i wouldnt have done very well out there this morning bare foot) is get little runner carpets ( i have 3 for her and it seems to be perfect) and just lay them one infront of the other until she gets back to the porch! when she stands on the first one i clean all the snow and ice out of her paws and warm them up a bit with my hands then she does the walk back no problem! i really REALLY suggest this! When they go out (especially first thing in the morning) they are so excited they dont notice the cold until it's pretty serious....
It's so good you brought up the heart and lung issue.... i didnt make the connection but it makes so much sense!!!
thank you so much for posting this!!!!
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