Winter Care for Your Dog: A Simple Guide

Keeping Your Pup Safe When It's Cold Outside

Winter is beautiful, but it's tough on dogs. The cold affects their bodies in ways that aren't always obvious. Here's what every dog owner should know, especially if you live in a city.

Why Dogs Get Cold (Even With Fur)

You might think fur keeps dogs warm enough, but it's not that simple. Dogs stay warm by trapping heat in their fur, tightening blood vessels near their skin, and changing their behavior (like curling into a ball or moving less).

When it's cold outside, their bodies send blood away from their paws, ears, and tail to keep their heart and organs warm. This works great for survival, but it means those body parts get cold fast—especially for small dogs or dogs with short fur.

Here's the thing: Dogs don't create extra body heat just because it's cold—they just try to hold onto the heat they have. Stay out too long, and they can get hypothermia even when it's above freezing.

What to watch for: If your dog starts walking slower on cold days, they're not being stubborn. Their body is trying to save energy and stay warm.

Dogs Need Water in Winter Too

Most people worry about hydration in summer, but winter dehydration is real.

Here's what happens: Dogs drink less because they don't feel as thirsty. Cold, dry air makes them lose water through breathing. And if you have the heat on inside, that dries out their skin and nose even more.

When dogs don't drink enough, they have less energy, their skin and coat suffer, and they actually have a harder time staying warm (water helps their body move heat around).

Easy fix: Add warm water or a little low-sodium broth to their food, especially after walks. It encourages them to drink more.

City Sidewalks Are Hard on Dog Paws

Dog paws are amazing—they have thick pads, special fat that doesn't freeze easily, and lots of nerves to feel what they're walking on. They're built for dirt, grass, and snow.

But city winters are different. Dogs have to deal with ice-melting salt, chemicals, rough frozen pavement, and sharp ice pieces.

The salt is the worst part. It sucks moisture out of their paw pads, causing them to crack and hurt. And when dogs lick their paws later (which they always do), those chemicals can make them sick.

Real talk: If your dog suddenly stops and lifts their paw, that's not them being dramatic—that's their body telling them something hurts.

Simple Ways to Protect Your Dog

Before you go outside:

• Put paw balm or wax on their pads to create a protective layer
• Try booties if your neighborhood uses a lot of salt (some dogs hate them, but they really help)
• Plan shorter walks more often instead of one long walk

While you're out:

• If your dog lifts a paw or slows down, head home—they're telling you they're uncomfortable
• Walk around heavily salted areas when you can
• Let them sniff around—mental stimulation is even more important in winter when walks are shorter

When you get home:

• Wipe their paws, legs, and belly with warm water to remove salt and chemicals
• Check between their toes for ice, cuts, or red irritated skin
• Offer water right away

The Most Important Thing: Pay Attention

You don't need to be perfect at winter dog care. You just need to notice when things change.

Is your dog walking slower? Lifting their paw? Curling up tighter than usual at night?

These aren't problems—they're your dog communicating with you.

Winter is harder on your dog's body than most people realize. They're working to stay warm, stay hydrated, and protect their paws from things they weren't designed to walk on.

The good news? Once you know what to look for, it's easy to help. Sometimes the best thing you can do is just slow down and pay attention to what your dog is telling you.