Once the temperature starts steadily dropping, I don’t think about getting my parka and snow boots out of storage — I immediately begin worrying about keeping my dog warm and safe when we go outside.
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we → start → dog
Like people, dogs are at risk for frostbite and hypothermia if they’re exposed to the cold for too long.
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they → expose → long
Slipping on ice, frozen paws and exposure to chemical de-icers are concerns for pet parents, too.
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Slipping → slip → parents
To make the winter more comfortable for your dog, I talked to two veterinarians about how to protect them from chilly, snowy weather.
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I → make → weather
Vets also broke down their top winter safety tips, including what to do if your pet comes into contact with dangerous substances like ice melt, rock salt and antifreeze.
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pet → break → melt
You’ll need different gear to address each area — for example, coats help dogs retain body heat, while booties can prevent dogs from slipping on ice and stepping in toxic salt.
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booties → need → salt
The items I recommend in this article cover various needs and meet veterinarians’ shopping guidance.
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I → recommend → guidance
They include highly rated items and those NBC Selected pet parents use themselves.
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parents → include → those
Experts also explain the purpose behind each product and when to use it.
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Experts → explain → it
How to keep dogs warm in the winter
Dog coats, jackets and sweaters aren’t just a fashion statement — the right one helps keep your pet warm, similar to humans.
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one → keep → humans
But not all dogs need the extra winter layer, says Dr. Hannah Hart, a veterinarian at Chewy.
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Hart → need → Chewy
(Ed’s note: The inclusion of products sold by Chewy in this article was made independently of Hart).
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inclusion → sell → Hart
It depends on a dog’s size, coat length, health status, activity level and time spent outside.
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It → depend → size
Smaller dogs and/or those with short fur coats, like chihuahuas and greyhounds, for example, often benefit most from outerwear, as do dogs with thin skin, like those that are older or have certain medical conditions, including Cushing’s disease, says Hart.
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Hart → benefit → disease
If your dog is highly active and produces a lot of body heat while running and playing, they may not need a coat.
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they → produce → coat
However, a thin, water-resistant layer can be helpful for even the largest, thickest-coated dogs to keep them dry during weather like snow and freezing rain, says Dr. Aly Cohen, an extension veterinarian for the Cornell Riney Canine Health Center.
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Cohen → keep → Center
It’s also important to remember that adding extra layers is most important for longer trips outside compared to short excursions, like getting from your home to a car parked nearby.
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adding → ’ → car
This jacket is designed with everything veterinarians recommend looking for while shopping for dogs’ winter outerwear.
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veterinarians → design → outerwear
It has a water-resistant exterior to keep your pet dry, as well as insulation and a fleece lining to keep them warm.
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It → have → them
Plus, the jacket is reflective, which Hart says is an important safety feature.
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Hart → say → ?
Daylight hours are shorter in the winter, so you’ll likely have to take your dog outside in low light conditions — reflective apparel ensures that cars, bicyclists and other people see your pup.
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cars → have → pup
Spark Paws’ jacket easily snaps on and off with double-breasted buttons so you can adjust its fit.
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you → snap → fit
There’s also a small zippered pocket to store essentials, and if you put a harness underneath the jacket, you can attach a leash to it via a zipper hole.
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you → ’ → hole
It offers full coverage across the back, chest and stomach, too.
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It → offer → back
Carhartt’s coat doesn’t have as much chest and stomach coverage as the one from Spark Paws’, but it’s still warm since it’s insulated and has a quilted liner.
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it → have → liner
You also may find it easier to put on your pet, especially if they’re squirmy.
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they → find → pet
Rather than buttons, the coat’s adjustable Velcro straps wrap around your dog’s stomach and chest.
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straps → wrap → stomach
Carhartt’s coat is made from a water-repellent canvas exterior that also protects them from wind, and there’s pockets on its sides for essentials, as well as a plush collar.
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that → make → essentials
It’s important to note that this coat doesn’t have a hole for harness access or leash attachment points.
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coat → ’ → access
A fleece like this one is ideal for days when it’s chilly enough for your dog to need an extra layer, but not cold enough for their heavy coat.
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dog → ’ → coat
It’s also great for layering — I often put my dog’s fleece under her rain jacket in the fall to keep her extra warm.
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I → ’ → her
Gooby’s fleece is double-sided, so it’s soft against your dog’s body as well as on the exterior, and there’s a dual D-ring leash attachment.
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it → ’ → exterior
It also has a high collar to protect your pet’s neck.
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It → have → neck
The vest’s half zipper creates a large opening to pull the fleece over your dog’s head.
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zipper → create → head
It offers full coverage across the back, chest and stomach.
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It → offer → back
If you live in an area that tends to get a lot of snow, or you plan to visit one this winter, your pup might need more protection than a standard coat offers.
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coat → live → protection
A full-body snow suit like this one keeps dogs warm and prevents snowball buildup in their fur — despite its extra coverage, however, it won’t restrict their movement.
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it → keep → movement
Canada Pooch’s snow suit has a water-resistant shell and thermal foil lining to help your dog retain heat, as well as a high funnel neck with adjustable toggles to keep wind and wetness out.
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dog → have → wind
“Snoods are another helpful winter gear item for dogs,” says Hart.
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Hart → say → dogs
“They’re a wraparound head covering that goes over the ears to protect them from frostbite, as the thin ear flaps can lose heat easily in cold weather.”
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flaps → ’re → weather
…and 87 more, not listed.
The Aporia
