DO YOUR DOG NEED PROTECTIVE CLOTHINGS SUCH AS JUMPERS AND COATS?
Bring out the layers, it’s getting cold outside…. At least thats what we do, but do our dogs need the extra layers too?
The answer is, it depends on your dog…. the size of the dog, breed, age, health and of course the temperature outside.
Small dogs often have a harder time retaining body heat, so a jumper or coat during colder weather could be needed, specially if your dog is short haired or a breed that is originally from warm climate.
But, if your dog has long hair such as Pomeranian, Chow Chow and Husky they mostly do not need additional clothing as their fur regulate temperature, and an additional layer may make them too warm.
Another factor to consider is, if you have a dog that has arthritis or suffer from muscle or joint pain, a jumper og coat can be very comfortable for them.
Dogs with certain health conditions like cushing’s disease, diabetes and heart or kidney disease can have problems regulating their body temperature, so a warm jumper can make them comfortable when it’s cold.
You also have to consider the outside temperature, the length of time your dog is going to spend outside and activity level, these should all be considered when deciding if your dog needs to wear extra layers. Temperatures over 7*C typically won’t need protective clothings (wind and rain should also be considered). If your dog will only be outside for 10mins or less they typically do not need any clothes except in extremely cold climates.
So next time you want to dress up your dog, make sure its for their own best, that way they won’t get too warm, or cold!
