Adventures in Pet Sitting - Ask Aunt Deb (and Steem Reward Winners) - Week 3
Congratulations to @haphazard-hstead, this week's winner of the 2 STEEM giveaway!
That leaves 2 STEEM yet to give away. Hmmmm... will have to think about what to do about that. In the meantime, back to this week's question:
@haphazard-hstead noticed: My neighbor has 2 little chihuahuas. Do they really need to wear man-made jackets in cold weather? If yes, what conditions warrant them wearing a jacket? Can the little dogs get too hot in their cold weather gear? Thanks!
Timely question! Little dogs, especially, are more prone to feel the cold than their larger relatives. They're closer to the ground and are much more likely to be exposed to the elements. Parking your bum in a snowbank while your feet are freezing just to poo is not a fun thought, so anything to help keep the rest of you warm is usually welcome.
Other than that, the decision to clothe them depends entirely on the dog and the environment. Short-haired breeds, long-haired breeds who get groomed (i.e. poodles), or any breed who's dealing with conditions like arthritis will benefit from the extra warmth provided by a sweater or coat. If the inside temp is being kept low, then most likely they'll want to wear it full time.
A good fit is vital for your furkids comfort and safety. PetMD is an excellent resource to explore when you need to provide your dog with that little extra help with the cold and wet. They have a useful description of how to measure accurately:
Why do you want it to fit? So that your dog cannot easily pull the piece off, so it doesn’t drag on the ground, and so it doesn’t get caught on anything during normal movement. You want the piece to be snug without being tight.
{snip}
The most important areas to measure are around the neck, around the largest part of the chest, and the distance from the neck to the waist. The sweater’s length should end around the waist, leaving the lower belly free. Check especially around the arms (in the "armpit" area) and around the neck to be sure there is freedom of movement, but not too much excess fabric. Also, choose pieces that are easy to put on and take off, nothing you have to pull too tightly over your dog’s head or that cause you or the dog to struggle.
I don't think I've ever come across or even heard of issues with overheating related to too much clothing, but that doesn't mean it couldn't happen, I suppose. I would imagine the critter would be obviously panting and seeking out the coolest place available to deal with it. This is another place where observation is needed to know what's normal for your furkid and what's excessive.
And some goofballs have their own way of cooling off when the need arises:
Thanks for the great questions and the opportunity to make sure we're providing the best care possible for our four-legged family members!
Thanks, @aunt-deb! My neighbor's little dogs have so many different jackets. They are fashion plates! Thanks for the great answer. Have a very merry Christmas!
You're welcome and thanks for the continuing support!
LOL at fashion plates. I wouldn't doubt they know they look sharp.
Merry Christmas to you and your family, too! Stay cozy.
Hi Deb
I am just checking in with you to say hi and Merry Christmas and all that stuff.
That's sweet! Thank you and I hope you have a memorable Christmas, too. Best wishes always!
Alas, the Hobo Cat's blindness has returned, and she seems worse than ever, so I have a really hard question: How can you tell whether the quality of life is so bad for a pet that it is time to put it down?
Aside from her blindness, she is healthy for her age. But she gets lost in the house, and is desperate for help whenever she isn't asleep.
I'm so sorry about Hobo Cat, @jacobtothe. It's hard to watch our pets decline. Our neighbor had a chihuahua that was blind in its last years. But it seemed to do well. Their criteria was whether their little dog still liked to eat. I've had cats, and that's been my criteria, too, for them. It doesn't make any decision easy. Here's to comfort for each of you.
Oh my! Scritchies to Hobo Cat. Re: getting lost... will she tolerate being restricted to a room or two? That will help her memorize her safe territory especially if you can get as many obstacles out of the way as possible. It will help limit the disruption for y'all, too. She'll have to learn to navigate by smell, sound, and whiskers. She's probably still getting used to the change in circumstance.
Hard to say. She's a dedicated lap cat who likes to be around people. She always has been. Shutting her away would not be good for her.
I was thinking more along the lines of the rooms you most frequent and baby gates to keep her there. Baby gates can be a pain to deal with on a routine basis, tho.
I wasn't very clear. My apologies!
Well said.