It's no secrect that it's freezing outside in this mid-February weather, but does that mean you should make sure your pup doesn't leave the house without a coat?
Most breeds do fine with just their natural coats, Reid Groman, staff veterinarian at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine, told Weather.com.
However, he added that some "short-haired breeds may be more comfortable in the cold weather with a sweater."
The bottom line is that dogs shouldn't be put in a coat just because they look cute.
Instead they should be reserved for toy breeds, or ones with particularly short hair (such as greyhounds), or older dogs with weakened immune systems, or diseases that might impact their hair (such as hypothyroidism).
If you decide to put a jacket on your pup, Groman told Weather.com that you should cover your pup from its chest to tail and there should be no sleeves. Also, you should make sure the dog is used to the threads before going outside because some pups won't go to the bathroom while wearing clothes.
"There are very few occasions when an animal needs a coat, even in the recent cold weather," Mark Johnston, from the British Small Animal Veterinary Association, told Weather.com, adding that it could even hurt the animal's ability to regulate their own body temperature. "Dogs have developed a very effective coat of their own, which will protect them from the elements. It is adjustable so they can raise the fur to control their temperature. Dressing them in a coat diminishes the animal's ability to regulate their own body temperature and could be detrimental if the animal gets too hot."
When dealing with bringing your dog outside in cold weather there are some "common sense" guidelines can be followed such as hort walks on very cold days, and a return home if they appear to be shivering, suggested Groman.
