Watch the condition of your dogs
It may be that your greyhounds will need increased rations to maintain their condition in the winter time. Monitoring skin and coat condition, levels of body fat and body weight will quickly tell you if something isn’t right – then you can make appropriate ration adjustments. Keeping them warm may not completely stop changes in condition, but it will help, and keeping an eye on condition will give you an early warning.
You might need to put a warm coat or jacket on the dogs, especially in the evenings and overnight. Make sure that coats are regularly inspected for damage, and are not tied on so tight that they are uncomfortable when the greyhound curls up, nor so loose that the dogs are constantly getting tangled in them. All coats and jackets should be regularly cleaned too – male dogs are notorious for peeing on the edges of their coats!
For the greyhound, being cold is not only uncomfortable, but it can mean that they lose condition due to the change in their energy requirements. Now they not only have to fuel their normal activity but also have to use energy to create warmth just to function normally on the inside. This may mean they need more calories in their daily diet.
Greyhounds have relatively thin skin and very little body fat. This is great for helping them cool down after a run, but it also means that they are susceptible to cold weather. The need to maintain their vital organs at a fairly constant temperature means that the body has to work harder during the winter to keep warm. This can affect diet and potentially cause injury when exercising.
If the greyhound’s core temperature drops, its body automatically tries to keep the important organs warm by restricting the blood flow to the skin and extremities. You will have experienced cold fingers and hands on a very brisk morning, along with the exposed skin that’s cool to the touch and which turns bluish. This same process happens in greyhounds to try to conserve heat when the outside temperature is low.
Is it OK for dogs to walk in the snow?
It can be a concern that the weather is simply too cold for your canine and walking them in the snow could lead to them becoming ill. … Although this is always important, it’s even more crucial in colder weather as it can be more dangerous for your dog if they go missing for a long period of time.
