Are you going skiing with your Frenchie? Or are there harsh winters where you live? Then read on.
Snow equals a lot of fun but also a lot of discomfort. Especially the parts of your friend she can have a hard time during winter and in snow. Thankfully there are some tips to make sure your Frenchie gets through the winter and the snow without any discomfort.
With these four tips, we’ll make sure your Frenchie gets through the winter unharmed.
Vaseline to prevent painful paws
When there is salt on the streets, your Frenchie can experience painful paws. Because of the snow, your Dog’s Paws can get little cracks. if there is salt on the street, this can cause irritation and a lot of pain.
That’s why it is important that you put vaseline on his paws before going on a walk. Are you going for a long walk? Then it’s better that you put vaseline between the paws at regular times. but do pay attention that you don’t put too much Vaseline because otherwise, the post will become soft, and this, in turn, can also cause irritation.
Prevent salt poisoning
After the walk, it is good practice to put your Frenchie’s paws in some low, warm-temperature water to rinse everything off. This will help prevent potential salt poisoning when the dog licks his paws clean after going for a walk.
Salt poisoning is very dangerous, so it is really important to pay attention to this.
In severe cases, this can cause death. The amount of salt that can become fatal for your dog is between 0.1 and 0.2 oz per 2 pounds body weight.
The first symptoms become manifest themselves after 72 hours.
Salt poisoning symptoms are:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- In the worst case, neurologic symptoms
So don’t take this too lightly, and always rinse off your Frenchie’s paws after a snowy winter walk.
If you take nothing else from these winter tips for your French Bulldog, let it be this one.
Ice between the toes
It’s easy for snow and ice to get stuck between the toes of your dog periods. This can cause little fragments of ice to be stuck between the parts, and this is an unpleasant feeling for your dog. To prevent this, you can cut the little hairs on the soles of his feet to prevent snow from sticking between the toes. Also, Vaseline is a good remedy to prevent this.
Treat your dog to a foot massage
And after the walk? You can spoil your dog with a lovely foot massage. This will stimulate blood flow and is very relaxing for your Frenchie. Start massaging the soles of the feet and then work your way up by massaging the space between the toes. Guaranteed success!
If you have a French Bulldog puppy, it is even more important to take the necessary precautions. Because they don’t have any hair on their belly and are so low to the ground, it’s very important to make sure that they don’t walk in the snow. If you really can’t prevent them from walking in the snow, please make sure that they don’t stay in it for an extended period of time.
Ice and water
No matter how fun it may look, NEVER let your Frenchie walk or run on the ice. It’s very slippery, and your dog risks hurting his joints, bones, or muscles. Another risk is he might fall through the ice, which may result in injury or a heart attack from the sudden cooldown of his body. Some dogs have a thick long coats, but as we all know, Frenchies have short coats and bellies with almost no fur on them, so this is to be avoided at all times…
Ice (and snow) makes your dog wet. And a wet dog suffers from hypothermia a lot faster than a dry one. Make sure that snow and ice don’t remain on his coat for too long to where it starts getting in between the coat.
When you get back from a winter (snowy) walk, make sure to dry him off completely. Not all dogs are into jackets and sweaters, but our beloved Frenchies are usually ok with them, so whenever you can, put on a sweater or jacket to help them stay dry and warm.
Keep your French Bulldog warm
This may seem obvious, but a lot of people don’t take this one serious; no matter how nice the weather is outside, don’t stay still for too long with your 4 legged friends. Keep the dog moving, because moving keeps him warm. Again because Frenchies have such a short coat and unprotected belly, it’s better to put on a jacket or sweater.
TIP: A French Bulldog (and all dogs in general) that is cold will shiver and will, avoid contact, and will usually stand in “statue” mode.
Lights
Because during winter time, it’s almost completely dark by 5 pm, it is a good idea to make sure your Frenchie will be seen by everybody, pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. There are a number of ways to make sure he stands out in the dark snowy environment. You can put on a reflective safety jacket, a reflective collar, and/or a bicycle light. The same goes for you as well.
Don’t leave your Frenchie in the car
This shouldn’t be mentioned, but I am going to briefly touch on it because, sadly every year there are still dogs whose owners forgot them in a car, and they didn’t survive.
The same as leaving your dog in a car during a hot summer day can be lethal; the dangers of the freezing cold shouldn’t be underestimated. During cold winter days and nights, the temperature in a car drops below freezing point, and your Frenchie can suffer from hypothermia. So never leave your dog in a car, especially when he is wet from the snow that melted on his coat.Wrapping up
Lastly, it’s important to note, and a lot of people seem to forget this, is to make sure you’re Frenchie (pup) doesn’t eat too much snow because that can become very sick from eating (too much) snow.
If your Frenchie is suffering from any of the symptoms above after a winter walk, don’t hesitate and go to a veterinarian, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
I hope these tips will give you and your French Bulldog a lot of wintertime fun. Stay safe and warm out there during winter.
If you happen to live in a tropical paradise where it’s always summer (I’m super jealous of you), there are some other articles on this blog that may interest you more than these winter tips for your French Bulldog 🙃