I wrote this on the first day of winter, and even though the temps were well into the 70’s here (they to reached the 80’s by Christmas Eve) I know the cold weather will hit us sooner or later. It may have already hit where you live.
Every winter, people do their best to prepare for the cold. We fill up our oil tanks, buy new blankets, and purchase new winter coats. And of course, we can’t forget our beloved little Chihuahuas! Being that they are naturally warm-weather dogs, the cold temps can be rough on them.
If you are seeking ways to keep your fur baby warm and toasty, here are a few useful ideas.
Buying salt to melt the snow on your walkway is something you probably do without even thinking about it. You probably have never considered the harmful effect these products can have on your chihuahua’s paws.
It is best to use sand since your pet’s paws are used to walking across gritty paths, but if you must use salt, make sure that you only consider brands that are labeled as pet-safe.
Instead of taking your dog on long extended walks like you do when it is warmer outside, you should start going out for only brief periods. Breaking up their outdoor time is a great idea since this means they will not be exposed to the elements for too long.
If you usually go out for 40 minutes at a time, you should consider 10-minute walks four times daily. Your dog will get the same amount of activity as normal without worrying about frostbite.
Keep an eye on your dog when walking them outside to be sure they don’t lick up any antifreeze that one of your neighbors may have spilled. It’s highly toxic and the older containers of antifreeze had a sweet taste that animals were attracted to. The newer ones have had something put in them to discourage animals but you never know what kind of antifreeze someone has used.
Purchase a winter coat for your dog. This is the only article of clothing that is really necessary. You do not want to buy a coat that is so heavy that your dog feels stifled. Sure, you want to keep them warm, but they already have a layer of fur. The coat you buy should reinforce the warmth from their fur without being overpowering.
While you may be tempted to buy the boots to match, they are an uncomfortable nuisance for many dogs. If you know your dog will wear them, go ahead and get them as they will add extra protection for your dog’s paws.
Recently one of our readers mentioned that she puts on the really tiny balloons (not blown up, of course) over her Chi’s paws. I thought that was an interesting idea.
You can also use paw balm to create a barrier of protection for their paws when outside.
Speaking of paws, leave a soft towel near your door to wipe your dog’s paws when they come inside. It’s a good way to keep them from dragging in mud, snow, etc. This is the time to also check your dog’s paws for any cracking or other injuries from the cold weather.
Also, wipe their bellies. Since we have such little guys, their undersides can often come in contact with de-icers and other bad things.
When you think about heating pad, you probably think about those ugly, bulky monstrosities that old grannies use to stay warm at night. There are actually products that are made specifically for keeping pets warm when it is frigid outside. Placing this pad on top of a bed that has been fitted with additional padding is the perfect way to show your chihuahua you love them.
Indoor pee pads and real grass patches are ideal if you live in an area that is particularly rough during the winter. Instead of letting the dog go out into the yard alone or walking them through the neighborhood, you can let them use the bathroom indoors. The only downside to this is that you will have to be vigilant and clean up after them right away, or your home will smell less than pleasant.
Of course, snuggle with those fur babies whenever you can. My dogs want me to hold them all the time when it’s chilly. Does your Chihuahua do that too?
Have any tips I have forgotten? Leave them in the comments!
Cathy Bendzunas
Pet Blogger
I have a 4.5 pound Chi. her name is Diva she is 9 years old and I don’t take her out in the winter, she is pp pads trained, the only problem is when I make the transition from out and in in the fall, she has a hard time to get use to caca on the pp pads, she sometimes hold herself for 2 days, then she gets into the routine of pp pads doodoos.
Ok this may be gross but it might help with the transition to the pp pads. Pick up a little of the last poop she did outside and put it on the pp pad.
Diva is quite pretty by the way.
I have a 5 year old Chi named Milly. We live in South Cali where it isn’t too cold but cold enough for her. She hates clothing of any kind. I’m trying to look out for her now that she is older and live in a home with all hardwood floors. I moved her ortho bed near the floor furnace so she can be warmer but don’t know if this is safe for her. Every time winter comes around I worry for my 3 pound baby and can’t help but miss carpets.
The heater being close to her should be okay. Milly will move if she gets too hot.
You can also get her a heated dog bed. Some of them are self heating from the dog’s body weight and some are the kind you plug in. Here’s some on Amazon:
I don’t know if any of them are orthapedic beds but they do have waterproof heated mats too that you can put in her bed.
Can’t give up my soft warm carpets. Only have bare floors in kitchen. My two chi,s sleep on the bed most of the time anyway.
My chis are spoiled.?
Love that little outfit!
Max’s condition inspired me to go back to school to become an animal control officer. Max is the sweetest chi chi I have ever seen. And at the same time very very protective of his new family. We now have a 3 lbs puppy he protects her ad well, Now he is the big brother. He knows he is loved and appreciated.
My name is Lisa and I have 2 half breed chi’s . The oldest is Chico who is 13 and the youngest is Tanner who is 7 and has pug in him. I love them both to death and put them on a plant based diet that i add my own protein to. They have been on it for almost a year and doing a lot better than they were on kibble. They are my lap dogs and my cat feels left out by times but I try to give him lots of attention too. My older boy is very touching now especially when if comes to clipping his nails. He sometimes draws blood, does anyone have any idea on how to keep him calm NATURALLY ?
What can I do If my 2 chi’s don’t like to wear clothes? They both are very proud and run away from the site of doggy clothes. My sassy girl take them out of my hand and hides them under the bed. lol… My monster is the one i’m more considered about. He is smaller than Ms. sassy girl and shakes alot. He looks really depressed and sad. Just wants me to hold him. He plays for a second with his toys then just lays there. I”m wondering if a heated bed would be good for him.
Yes, I think a heated pad would be a good idea for your Monster. I saw some on Amazon. Just put heated small dog beds and they will come up.
I have a covered wicker basket in the kitchen with a thick mattress, under which is an electric heating pad on medium. I also have another bed upstairs in my computer desk, which I removed the door to give my Chihuahua access, with a heating pad in that bed too. I made certain the beds are at a comfortable warm temperature, but not too hot. If my little Elliott feels chilly, especially when I cannot be home with him, he always has a warm bed to snuggle up in. I also leave a soft lightweight blanket on the living room couch that he can rearrange to his satisfaction and crawl inside. Nothing is too good or too much trouble for my little man!
You sound like a wonderful doggy mom Sharron!
We wish we would have known how much short haired chi’s shed. We have tried friends ideas and the vets recommendations. Lily sheds so much we wonder now she has any hair left. Vet says she has a good coat. Open to more suggestions to slow down the shedding.
My best advice (which you are probably already doing) is brush Lily every day.
We do have an article on shedding with some other tips here: https://ilovemychi.com/chihuahua-shedding-and-what-you-can-do-about-it/
Do calming shirts help dogs who stress out when traveling in a car/trucks. Our little girl pants and shakes when traveling. We worry about her and it is very annoying to us.
It works with many dogs but not all of them. It’s worth a try though. CBD oil may also help as it relaxes them.
I have a chihuahua I got from the Animal Shelter who is the light of my life, her name is Carly which mean small and strong, she is a deer head Chi, which was 6 pound when I got her. Now she is about 9 pounds and the Vet said she is not over weight. Read that deer heads can be bigger than the apple heads. All I want is a healthy little girl. I walk her daily about four blocks both ways. Would take a picture of her but don’t know how to post it. But like I said she is my life. Any ideas about what is a good Chi mom? Thank you.
It sounds like you already are a good chi mom Deborah! If the vet says she’s not overweight, all you need to worry about is maintaining her current weight. Limit her snacks, keep her on a high quality food and on days the weather is too bad to take her for a walk, maybe play a few indoor games with her.
And yes, deer heads are often bigger than appleheads.
What is considered as quality dog food may I ask? Some I heard was lack of grain and not sure what grain that is considered good . So far I mix Iams dog food with Casers dog food. Sounds strange but I ask the Vets office and get different feed back. I heard that grain free is not good. So please give me help, Thank you DeborahVogg
Grain free is okay as dogs don’t really need grains but they do need some carbs. So it shouldn’t be 100% meat.
If you do feed grain free, supplement with a little homemade food or fresh human grade food (Ollies, Pet Plate, The Farmers Dog, Nom Nom Now) if you can. That way they are getting a varied diet.
We have an article here that might help : https://ilovemychi.com/ngredients-dog-food/
This article too is excellent on dog food: https://breedsy.com/best-dog-food/
Abby loves to be playing in the backyard! I just adopted her 3 weeks ago and we are bonding very quickly! Since she loves the back yard so much I do not know what I’m going to do when is cold and icy or when it rains heavily! Any ideas?
She will probably not want to go out as much when it turns cold but when she does, just put a sweater or coat on her and have some warm blankets waiting for her when she comes back inside. I sometimes throw a blanket in the dryer when I take my dogs out in the winter and then take it out when we come back in. They flock to it like a moth to a flame.
Also find some things she can do indoors such as interactive toys. We have a post that may give you some ideas here: https://ilovemychi.com/indoor-games-to-play-with-your-chihuahua/
Any suggestions when the temperature is cold my Chi has trouble breathing when outside for just a potty break.
Not really, just make sure they have a sweater or coat on but you are probably already doing that.
I have a 4-1/2 lb chi. Her name is Pixie & she is 6 months old.
Issue #1: I am having trouble finding clothes that are small enough to fit her correctly. Any suggestions?
Issue #2: I also have an 8 yr old chi. His name is Milo. I cannot get Pixie to stop chasing & biting on Milo-playfully though but still very annoying for him. Putting her in her kennel for a time out doesn’t even phase her. Any suggestions?
Yes, check out this post: https://ilovemychi.com/find-clothes-for-tiny-dogs/
What does Milo do when Pixie bothers him? This is something that dogs usually work out among themselves. When he gets annoyed enough, he will probably snap at her and that’s when she will learn to not pester him. Of course, continue to do the timeouts and say no in a stern voice. She’s still pretty young. It may take her awhile to catch on. Part of it is probably teething too at that age.