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From the Summit News, in Breckenridge Colorado:
Cold weather probably means more pain and joint stiffness for dogs who are arthritic or have some degree of hip dysplasia. Arthritis medication and exercise, therefore, is very important.
But exercise does not mean running your dog behind the snowmobile at 40 mph or following you on a four-hour cross-country trail.
Dogs, especially Labs, are willing to follow you anywhere and for as long as you want. Running in the snow, especially if it’s deep, is more strenuous on the dogs.
They can’t rationalize — they don’t understand they may be too sore to get out of bed the following morning.
If you have a long-haired dog or one that tends to have hair in between the toes, try to keep that hair trimmed or shaved down. This will prevent snow from getting caught there and causing the toes to spread out and the skin to split and bleed.
If you have a dog with short hair and sensitive skin, then you might need to put booties on its paws and not keep it in the cold too long.
Dogs can be left outdoors during the day. Most dogs — goldens, Labs, Aussies, malamutes, huskies — can tolerate the cold well.
But some dogs have been kept in our warm homes and may not be able to spend a full winter day in the yard if the temperature drops too low. Use common sense, and make sure there is a doggy house with a blanket, maybe a heated one, and plenty of water.
