Dear Ollie: I am writing this letter to say that I am no big fan of winter. During this last week, snow has been falling, falling and falling. I hate it.
And I am really distressed when my owner ties me outside and my water dish freezes. Then my breath becomes cloudy and I begin to shake.
Why does my owner think it is OK to tie me outside all day? I know that I have a great fur coat, but I still get very cold and I want to be inside where it is warmer. From where I'm tied, I believe that this is one of the coldest winters on record. When is this going to end? -- Bailey, A Very Cold Hobart Dog
Dear Bailey: Why does your owner tie you up all day outside in the cold? The answer to that is easy: Your owner is a jerk or just plain stupid. There's no nice way to say it.
Just because you have a good winter coat does not mean that you are equipped to be tied up outside all day. Your coat is an insulator that traps warm air next to the skin, which may keep your internal temperature in the normal range of 99 degrees to 102.5 degrees.
Trouble will really begin if your fur gets wet, there's a lot of wind or your irresponsible owner ties you up outside for longer than your body is designed to handle. Your shiver reflex is actually helpful because shivering increases the body's metabolism and generates heat.
A responsible owner must be concerned if you are ever acting sleepy or are cold to the touch. If this happens, you must be brought inside immediately and wrapped in warm blankets. Rubbing Karo syrup on you gums will keep your blood sugar from lowering, which increases your risk of going into shock. If these measures don't help, your owner must take you to the veterinarian where he or she will get chewed out for tying you outside in the winter months. The bottom line is that dogs can freeze to death.
I would like to put a fur coat on your owner and tie him or her outside all day and see if they like the way it feels.
Dogs are like people and they can get cold -- very cold -- get hypothermia and freeze to death.
I am furious to hear of this and yet I know that too many people think that tying a dog outside in the winter is good pet care. It's stupid and extremely irresponsible; no animal should ever be tied outside in the cold weather.
You also asked when the snow will stop. I don't know. I am a canine advice columnist, not a canine weatherman. What I will do is take this opportunity to write a list of good behaviors for humans regarding their pets during cold weather. I hope your owner reads it (if he or she can actually read).
When temperatures fall, and they definitely have, your pet needs a little extra care. Cold weather and wind chill can threaten a pet's life. Here are some important tips to be sure that this doesn't happen on your watch:
* Be aware of the cold when you take your pet outdoors, especially if it's young, old or short-haired. Short-coated dogs may need a sweater during walks.
* An outdoor dog needs an elevated, dry dog house with clean, dry bedding and a flap over the opening to keep drafts out. Consider a dog door to the garage with a soft cushion in the warmest corner.
* Warm vehicle engines attract cats. Bang on your vehicle's hood to scare away cats before you start the engine.
* Antifreeze tastes sweet to animals, but it is a deadly poison! Make sure animals can't get access to antifreeze around or under your car, or in storage areas around the garage or house. If your vehicle has a leak, get it repaired immediately if you park it where animals have access to it. Use a funnel when adding antifreeze and mop up any spills.
* Outdoor dogs need more calories in winter to produce body heat, so increase the amount you feed your pet, being careful not to overfeed. Indoor dogs may require less food in the winter if they get less exercise.