Some dogs, like Bauer here, love being out in the snow. Others shouldn't be outside for very long in the winter. (Instagram/bauer.thehusky)

By Rob Mahon

Dogs In Snow

SPCA: Keep an eye on your pets in cold weather

Nov 22, 2021 | 4:00 PM

Whether you love winter or hate it, there’s no denying the dropping temperature can have serious health implications for people. That’s just as true for their pets.

As winter sets in, pet owners, particularly those of dogs that spend time outdoors, need to keep a close eye on their pets. While many animals are better built for cold weather than people are, that doesn’t mean they’re immune to harsh conditions.

“With this weather, they want to be indoors just like us people do,” said Ashlee Bober, manager of the Prince Albert Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). “It is important to bring them inside and keep them nice and warm. If they are going outside, just make sure you’re watching to see the temperature outside.”

Dogs with short hair and most smaller dogs aren’t meant to be outside for long stretches of time in freezing cold temperatures. The same is true of cats, though they shouldn’t be outside too long for another reason.

“For cats in the city, it is against the bylaw to have them roaming loose outside anyway,” Bober said. “So if you are going to have them outside, make sure you have them tethered. But in this weather, they’ll probably prefer being inside anywhere.”

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If you’re going to build a doghouse for your dog outside, Bober stressed it’s not just a matter of nailing some boards together and throwing down a blanket. In fact, a blanket isn’t the best thing to have in a dog house as it can thaw and re-freeze, becoming even colder to lie on.

“It’s very important for dogs that are outside to have insulated dog houses outside,” Bober said. “Another big thing I like to tell people is for inside the dog houses, definitely if you can use straw, not blankets.”

When the time comes to walk your dog, Bober said it’s a good idea to keep an eye on their paws. If they’re lifting a paw off the ground constantly, it’s probably time to go home. Ice and snow can not only freeze paws but can cut them as well, so that’s something else to be wary of. All that said, some dogs absolutely love winter weather and have a blast going out to play in it.

“I have an elkhound and he fights me when I bring him in the house,” Bober said. “Not every single breed hates being outside in the cold. There are definitely breeds that love the snow, and that’s completely ok. As long as they are happy out there, they’re warm, they have a warm place to go and when they want to come inside they can come inside, it’s perfectly ok for them to be out there.”

Bober also said if people see someone leaving their dog outside for long stretches of time and want to report it, they should not call animal control but should instead call the bylaw office or Saskatchewan Animal Protection.

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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP