The grooming of animals is a very important factor that affects their quality of life at any time of the year, therefore, low temperatures are not justification for neglecting their hygiene; Although we are in the cold season, the cleaning habits of our pets should not be left out.
The dog’s coat needs to be always clean as this directly influences his health; Neat hair prevents bad odors and skin diseases.
Long-haired dogs, such as Siberian huskies, chow chow or alaskan malamutes, tend to have better resistance to low temperatures than short-haired dogs, such as doberman or chihuahua, small dogs such as yorkshire, Puppies or dogs in adulthood.
Also, dogs shaved in large numbers are negatively affected by the low winter temperatures. Thus, a long and thick coat becomes the best coat and protection element for the dog in winter.
Dog grooming during winter
It is necessary to facilitate brushing the coat by applying a nourishing foam on the hair before brushing; In this way, it can be combed easily and the use of water in the dog’s hair will be avoided.
When cutting your hair, it is advisable to limit it only to the ends, to shape the hairstyle without drastically reducing the amount of hair. It should be cut, especially, around the legs, pads and belly so that it does not get very wet.
In addition, it is important that the hair surrounding the pads is very short, thus preventing snow or any ice ball from entering them.
After walking, it is advisable to check your pads and verify that there are no cuts or scratches. To do this, a protective cream of pads should be placed whose purpose is to condition them to resist salt and any chemical used to melt and remove ice or snow.
When the walks are finished, the dog’s legs should be dried with a towel, in order to avoid licking the remains of salt or any other product. Salt is a stomach irritant and chemicals can trigger poisoning.
If you take the dog for long walks and if you have sensitive pads, the veterinarian recommends applying a pad protector that helps repair and hydrate the base of the legs.
The hygiene of the dog in the cold months should include cleaning the snout and the sensitive and sensitive areas of the animal. This task should be done using special products that do not require the use of water to remove or rinse them.
Taking a bath to the dog in winter can generate a bronchopulmonary health problem in the pet, especially if they are puppies, adult animals or unprotected dogs. Therefore, the best option is to select a dry or powder shampoo to bathe without having to wet them.
Keep in mind that heating, excess moisture or poor brushing can lead to skin problems or excessive molting in the animal; Keeping the fur and skin healthy is essential for the dog to be well protected in the cold months.