We are very aware that people tend to get sick more often in winter than any other time of year. But did you know your dog is more at risk during the winter months as well?
Dr. Patrick Mahaney DVM, leading veterinarian and consultant for The Honest Kitchen, has some great tips when it comes to keeping your best friend healthy during the coming winter months.
Food & Water
Temperature
Dr. Mahaney recommends keeping your dog’s water at room temperature, even when you re-fill it.
“Very cold or ice water can cause decreased blood flow to digestive tract muscle thereby inhibiting normal blood flow, oxygenation, provision of nutrients, removal of toxins, and slowing the pace of involuntary muscular contraction (peristalsis),” he explains. “Ultimately, this can lead to digestive tract problems including vomiting, diarrhea, malabsorption of nutrients, or others.”
Moist/Wet food vs. Dry
Interestingly, we need additional hydration in the winter (both you and your pets!) because our heating systems dry out the air the same as when it is hot out, Dr. Mahaney says.
So feeding your dog a wet or moist food can ensure they are getting enough water. He actually recommends feeding moist foods year-round for this reason. Serve it at room temperature as well.
You can also warm the food (to make it more appetizing), but he cautions to not over-heat or it will cause burns to your dog’s mouth.
“In general, I recommend food that is room temperature or slightly warmed (for the aroma-releasing qualities or to enhance the absorption of water into food to improve digestion),” he says.
“Warming Foods”
Dr. Mahaney explains that in Chinese medicine, certain foods are known to have warming qualities. Proteins that are considered warming include:
- Chicken
- Lamb
- Venison
Beef is considered warming by some schools, he adds, while others have it as “neutral” (neither warming nor cooling).
The Honest Kitchen has recipes that match many of these food energies, including:
- Force– chicken (gluten and grain-free)
- Thrive– chicken (gluten-free, contains whole grain [organic quinoa…a seed])
- Love– beef (gluten, and grain-free)
- Verve– beef (contains whole grain [organic oats and organic rye])
The Honest Kitchen also has three base mixes in which owners can add their own protein to appropriately match their dog’s food energy needs, including:
- Preference– fruit and vegetable base mix (gluten and grain-free)
- Kindly– grain-free, potato-free and fruit-free vegetable base mix
- Hale– fruit, vegetable, and whole grain (organic oats, organic millet, and organic buckwheat) base mix
It’s best that dog owners consult with a Chinese medicine trained veterinarian on how to most appropriately use food energies in their dogs (see www.ivas.org).
Outdoors
After Play
“After playing outdoors in colder temperatures, your dog’s core body temperature will likely be higher just like it would when playing in warmer weather (but perhaps not quite as high),” Dr. Mahaney says. “Therefore, I don’t suggest that dog owners offer a beverage that is hot. One that is room temperature or very slightly warm is most appropriate.”
Just like people, dogs lose vitamins, mineral, electrolytes, etc., when exercising. Dr. Mahaney suggests giving your dog something liken to a doggy sports drink when he comes back inside.
“A post-exercise beverage like Honest Kitchen Ice Pups (rehydrated with warm water instead of cold water) is a tasty way to provide health yielding nutrients including dehydrated chicken, turkey, whey, dandelion, asparagus, watercress, honey and parsley,” he explains.
Warming Up
Your dog needs to warm up gradually when participating in an outdoor activity in cold weather.
“The degree of intensity should be very mild to start with a gradually increase to more challenging over a period of 5 to 15 minutes depending on your dog’s fitness level, overall health status, and age,” he advises.
He adds that senior dogs (over seven years) and dogs with any type of medical condition/illness should be treated with more caution when exercising, especially in the colder months. Talk to your vet about what’s safe for your dog to do during winter.
Signs of Illness
Is your dog too cold? Here are the signs Dr. Mahaney says to look for:
- Trembling (shaking)
- Discomfort while standing (lameness, offloading from and affected limb, etc.)
- Licking at the affected paws or body parts
- Cool or cold sensation to the paws or affected body part (ears, tail, etc.)
- Pale appearance (light pink, gray, blue, etc.) to the paws or affected body part
- Peeling of the layers skin during episodes of frostbite
Aside from cold-related problems like frostbite and hypothermia, our dogs can be infected with canine influenza, and they also can even pick up influenza viruses that affects humans, birds (avian), and pigs (swine), he adds.
Is your pet getting the flu? Here are the signs Dr. Mahaney says to look for:
- Lethargy
- Decreased appetite
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Nasal discharge
- Decreased water consumption
- Changes in behavior, etc.
If your pet is showing such clinical signs of illness, it’s important that you schedule an examination with your pet’s veterinarian.
Prevention
Finally, Dr. Mahaney says it is possible to boost your dog’s immune system to help keep him healthy.
“I’ve successfully been able to strengthen the immune systems of my own dog and my patients by providing probiotics,” he explains. “Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that help maintain or improve gastrointestinal tract function. As a significant portion of the immune system relies on the intestines, providing probiotics can enhance whole-body heath.
Speak with your vet about whether or not probiotics of any type would help your dog out. (Side note: they are good for YOU too!)
Remember, since your dog can get your influenza virus, limit contact with her if you are feeling under the weather. Keep your own hands washed and don’t sneeze on your dog.
About the Author
Based in Wilsonville, Ore., animal lover Kristina N. Lotz is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA) and works as a full time trainer. She is the founder of, A Fairytail House, a unique all-positive all-sport dog training facility that helps rescue dogs in her area and provides free seminars and training classes for the community. In her spare time, she trains and competes in herding, agility, obedience, rally, and conformation with her Shetland Sheepdogs. She smartly married a Veterinary Technician, who helps keep the fur kids happy and healthy, and provides a quick resource for articles.
Toledo, United States.
