Jackson has been my friend since he came into this world. He has grown into a jovial big bundle of fun loving Labradour dog and accompanies me in all my excursions. The thought of taking him along on a winter hike has surfaced in my mind time and again, but I haven’t being able to convince myself about his wellbeing and comfort on a snowy adventure.

This winter I mustered up some courage and made up my mind. I researched a great deal and formulated a plan by googling and learning about new methods of taking care of a dog in freezing conditions. After my exploration of the World Wide Web, I chalked up a list of items that I needed to buy for Jackson. Well-prepared I tagged along with him and had a fun trip. If you have a dog that you adore and want to take him with you on a journey in winter, follow the below mentioned tips that I found extremely useful.

Tip 1 - Medical Kit

No matter how well prepared you are, there is always a chance of something undesirable happening on a winter trip. Make sure that you carry a first-aid kit that has all the necessary items to safeguard your dog’s health. A dog’s medical kit should include:

  1. Muzzle-An injured dog can bite. Make sure that you carry a muzzle to tie it along its mouth when it is in pain.
  2. Hydrogen Peroxide-Take some hydrogen peroxide alongside with you. It can be used for cleansing minor wounds and can be administered orally to a dog if it has ingested something poisonous. Hydrogen Peroxide will make the dog vomit and clear its stomach off poisonous material that it has swallowed.
  3. Vet Wrap-This wrap can be used to cover up wounded spots. Quite versatile, vet wraps can come handy in case of an injury to your dog.
  4. Dog Bandages-Dog bandages are perfect for fixing minor injuries on dog’s paw or legs.

Tip 2 - Dog Shoes

Shoes are extremely important for your dog when it is moving on snow. Shoes not only protect a dog against injuries but also provide it warm comfort in extremely cold weather, which you will find on a snowy terrain. Before taking your dog along with you, make sure that you help it get accustomed to wearing the shoes that you have bought. Always buy the shoes in correct size, preferably on the advice of an expert, so that they do not come off while running.

Tip 3

If you have planned for a long journey, make sure that you come prepared with a bed for your dog. A bed will provide your canine friend a warm spot to regain its lost energy. Always refer to a bed size vs. dog weight chart before selecting your dog’s sleeping place. Also, consider the style in which your dog sleeps and choose the shape of its bed accordingly. If your dog sleeps stretched out, go for a rectangular bed, and if it naps all cuddled up, you can buy a cuddler bed.

Snowshoeing with your dog

If you intend to snowshoe along with your dog, you need to make special preparations. As snowshoeing is done on snow covered land, your dog will need extra protection from cold. Keep him warm by buying him an extra jacket and protect its feet with booties. Also, learn about the signs of hypothermia in a dog by watching a YouTube videos or consulting a vet, and administer first aid immediately at its onset.