Krasnoyarsk animal psychologist explained how to help a dog survive the Siberian winter

Krasnoyarsk zoopsychologist Viktor Petrov told how to make winter walks comfortable and safe for pets. He shared his advice on radio “Komsomolskaya Pravda – Krasnoyarsk”.

According to Petrov, frost tolerance depends not only on the breed, but also on the living conditions, nutrition and activity of the animal. For example, a domestic dog living in a warm environment will have a worse undercoat than its outdoor relative. The main signs that a pet is cold are tucking its paws and general lethargy.

“There’s nothing wrong with sitting out the cold at home. You can walk your pet only when necessary,” the specialist noted.

In cold weather, special attention should be paid to insulation. Most often, dogs' ears, tail and genital area get cold, so a full-fledged overalls may be needed. To protect paw pads from reagents and ice, Viktor Petrov recommends using a special protective wax.

Owners also need to be more careful when throwing toys, especially in unfamiliar places, as the pet can run and get injured on the ice. For smooth-haired and decorative breeds that are poorly adapted to the cold, he advises replacing long walks with active games at home: learning commands or playing search games. In his opinion, such activities are even more beneficial in the long run.

With the arrival of frost, nutritional adjustments may be necessary: ​​street dogs usually increase the caloric content of their diet, while domestic dogs most often do not need to change anything.

The specialist also reminded that in cold weather, dogs, like people, can become more irritable due to discomfort, so it is important to show more attention and patience to them.

Newslab now in MAX. News is also published in OK | VK | Zen | Telegram