Fur Isn’t Enough: Winter Health Risks Your Dog Faces.

When will the cold wind arrive... yes, when exactly will the cold wind arrive?

As we all know, Thailand barely has a winter season at all, but during this period we might get to feel some cool, chilly breezes. This kind of hot-and-cold weather swing can make it hard for the body to adjust in time, leading to various illnesses. The same goes for dogs -- even though they're covered in fur, that doesn't mean they won't get sick when the weather turns cold. Today, let's introduce dog owners to the illnesses that come with the cold season.

• Respiratory infections -- these range from illnesses that resolve on their own to severe conditions. During the cold season, besides the drop in temperature, wind is another factor that can carry germs to your dog, such as colds, infectious pneumonia, and pneumonia. Owners can watch for these symptoms: lethargy, loss of appetite, runny nose, and difficulty breathing. If these symptoms occur, bring your dog to see a veterinarian right away.
• Hypothermia -- this condition happens when a dog's body can't regulate its internal temperature normally, which suppresses central nervous system function, affecting the heart and circulatory system.

Conditions That Result From Improper Owner Care

• Not bathing during winter -- if we ourselves don't want to bathe in the cold, we assume our dog doesn't want to either, but that's a mistaken idea. You can bathe your dog as normal, perhaps once every two weeks, or use warm water if available. If you never bathe your dog at all, germs on the fur and skin can build up, leading to fungal infections and bacterial skin conditions.
• Not letting your dog play outside because it's winter -- if you let your dog run and play outside in the cold, this can lead to respiratory infections, but if you keep them confined indoors the whole time, this can cause your dog stress. This is especially true for breeds that need regular exercise -- when they become too stressed, their immune system weakens, making them more susceptible to infections. In Thailand, winter temperatures don't drop below freezing, so you can still let your dog run and exercise outside as usual -- just put a warm sweater on them if it's especially cold, to protect against the chill.
• Food doesn't spoil in winter -- with weather this cold, food surely won't spoil, so you can keep feeding the same batch without changing it often, just like keeping it refrigerated, right? This idea is also wrong. To prevent diarrhea or food poisoning, you should always give your dog fresh, clean food and water, and don't forget to regularly clean their food and water bowls too.

How to Care for Your Dog During Winter

• Keep your dog warm with simple methods such as bedding, floor mats, or clothing. But research your dog's breed first to determine what kind of clothing is appropriate, since some breeds handle cold weather quite well and would only need thin clothing, while puppies and senior dogs who can't tolerate cold as well should wear thicker clothing for extra warmth.

Even though Thailand doesn't get anywhere near as cold as countries with below-freezing temperatures, we should still take care to protect our dogs -- prepare warm clothing and regularly watch for signs such as difficulty breathing or a runny nose, along with any symptoms that suggest a cold, so we can treat our dog promptly.