Getting Through Rainy Season With Your Dog

Dogs have both natural instinct and a warm and thick coat that help them deal with bad weather, right? Well, it seems the question of dogs in the bad weather is a bit more tricky. You’ll find clashing opinions circling the internet, vouching for and against rain gear, and other measures of precaution. Here we’ll try and offer some moderate and reasonable points you can take into account. 

Equipping the Right Rain Gear

Firstly, what’s the deal with dog rain gear? To make a long story short, it all comes down to the dog’s breed. Some breeds don’t require additional protection, and mother nature has them all set up for colder days. However, there are at least four reasonable factors to consider before you choose to ditch the rain gear: 

• Dogs evolved alongside men and grew accustomed to homes and sheltered spaces.

• You can buy pups from all around the globe today, which means most breeds don’t live in their natural habitat.

• Even if they’re warm, they can still be affected by harmful chemicals and pathogens, various infections, and seasonal allergies.

• It is easier to teach your dog to gear up than wash them every time they come home soaked and muddy.

Raincoats

Even if your dog is all warmed up and not at risk of catching a cold, they still get wet, which is complicated in itself. By equipping them with a simple waterproof raincoat, you save yourself the trouble and the amount of time lost on towel drying them later on. But more importantly, you help them stay dry and comfortable when outside. 

Raincoats and jackets wary in design and function, so make sure you get it right, depending on your dog’s needs. Universal advice would be to make sure that the fit is as close to perfect as possible, otherwise, it will cause more discomfort than benefits.

Rain Boots

While the coat does provide them with additional protection, their paws stay unprotected against cold weather. If their skin is cracked, rain can make it easier for the paws to get infected. This you can deal with by coating their paws with pad wax. 

Wax can help prevent damage from abrasive chemicals and other harmful matter. But boots offer the best protection and are definitely the most hygienic option. As for the models and their function, go to Pet Life and see the variety in designs they come in and their seasonal performance.

Quick-Dry Towel

This is optional and depends on the occasion. Of course, it is nice to have one pet towel at home, but anything that can help you dry off your pup can come in handy just as well. 

But if you’re not planning on heading home, it is good to have one such absorbent towel with you to quickly and easily handle the situation. This helps minimize the possibility of them catching a cold outside.

Paw Cleaner

Like the towel, this, too, can be a simple matter of cleanliness. This is a great asset to have by your side on rainy days. If your dog can’t stand wearing boots, this is another way you can handle the matter of hygiene. 

A portable paw cleaner is easy to use and it can help you not bring in dirt wherever you go. This is especially useful during the rain, but quite practical in regular situations just as well.

Giving Them Proper Aftercare

There’s really no need to pamper your pups excessively, but there are some general rules that should be encouraged for their wellbeing. 

Double-Check The Ears

After toweling off, pay special attention to their ears and check for any signs of infection. During rainy and humid periods, moisture tends to stick for longer in their ears. Make sure their ears are dry, around the ear folds and inside, and remove any excess wax. This should help avoid the most common infections during this period.

Ensure a Fiber Rich Diet

Since you’ll stay at home most of the time, your pup will not get the usual amount of exercise during this period, which may interfere with their digestion. To avoid such trouble, it is recommendable to make sure they eat enough fibrous foods to help regulate their digestion. 

You can also boil water then cool it off before you give them any, as this can ease a potential stomach ache. Of course, you can also engage them in an in-home exercise to boost their metabolism. Just make sure they don’t overeat the portion of the food should be proportional to the amount of their daily exercise.

Create a Cozy Corner

Some breeds are especially sensitive to such weather and become very anxious when they hear the thunder and winds roaring. It is preferable to provide them with a secure nook where they can snuggle up or hide. Make them feel like this is their safe place. This way, you can ease their tension when you’re not around.

Keep Their Bedding Dry

Humid seasons are an ideal time for fungi to form and bacteria and fleas to spread – especially in damp places, which is usually your pup’s bed. Ensure that their favorite spot is well covered, dry, and warm. It is partially a matter of comfort since nobody likes sleeping where it’s cold and damp, but largely, because that is where they are the most sensitive to attacks of ticks, fleas, and bacteria. Changing their bedding regularly and making sure their fur is dry when they go to rest should be enough to avoid such troubles.

This might, at first, seem like trouble, but once you establish these rules, you and your pup can start enjoying the rainy days more. There’s no need to further complicate things with a bunch of rain gear and indoor rules and pampering some vouch for. 

Too much equipment is bothersome and unnecessary, so a simple raincoat and a few home rules should do just enough to ensure their safety. In the end, the best measure of your pup’s wellbeing is seeing them happy and having fun.