Protect your pet from cold weather. If it is possible to keep your pet indoors, do so. If you want to keep it outdoors, make sure there is proper shelter.

When it is cold outside, ensure that your dog’s doghouse is well insulated. But it is best to bring your pet indoors if the temperature is freezing.  A correct-sized doghouse will help to keep your pet’s body heat inside. If the house is too large, the heat can escape easily. Keep the floor of the doghouse raised a few inches above the ground. Also keep the face of the house away from the wind.

Calorie requirements increase in cold weather if your dog stays outdoors. Increase his feeding quantity. Also provide clean drinking water for him. If your pet is dehydrated, he will lose body heat quickly.

Look for signs of hypothermia in your pet. These may be shivering, slow breathing or dullness. Check his extremities for frostbite. This causes the extremities to become swollen red and painful. If you observe any of these signs, go to a vet immediately.

Keep your dog well groomed to protect him from the cold. Smaller dogs can be covered with the help of a sweater. If your dog is a short-haired breed, it can be more prone to the effects of cold weather. If this is the case, don’t keep the dog in an outdoor house.

Very young or very old animals are more vulnerable to cold weather. As such, you should be careful about keeping them warm in the winters.