Can and should you walk your dogs in the snow and freezing temperatures?
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Tips for how to look after your pets during the cold weather. Temperatures are dropping across the UK with snow weather warnings in place. Meteorologists had warned that temperatures overnight could have plummeted to as low as minus 8C as a week-long spell of wintry conditions hit the UK.
![[Woman putting collar, leash and coat on her dog to get ready to go out for a walk in cold weather (Alamy/PA)]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/11/18/14/18101906-73e0570a-914b-4148-8a8d-0fa2115513f2.jpg)
UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) cold weather health alerts for all of England remain in place ahead of a week of low temperatures. With this news, many will be thinking about how this chilly weather may affect our pets. It’s important to prepare our dogs, as well as ourselves, for this forecast.
![[Close up image of a man shovelling snow in a garden (Alamy/PA)]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/11/18/14/18092731-d4b4aadc-f824-400e-82dc-4b8e3a19c788.jpg)
From diet to grooming, here are some things to bear in mind to keep your four-legged friends safe and well this winter. Paws are very sensitive to temperature changes, so try to give them some extra care and attention this winter. “You can also invest in dog boots to keep your dog’s paws warm and protected.”.
![[Dog jumping up to catch a ball that a woman has thrown (Alamy/PA)]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/11/18/14/18102725-0ef99e13-ec5b-4898-bf3f-755eccd450ac.jpg)
“Keep a warm, insulated bed off the ground and away from any draughty areas, such as a door,” he adds. “Giving them extra blankets will also help them keep warm during the winter nights.”. “If you’re reaching for your coat when it’s time for a walk, make sure your dog is wrapped up as well,” says Soames. “Some dogs have less body fat and are less hardy than others, so they will require extra help to keep warm.
