Doggie, It's Cold Outside

With the polar vortex in full swing, most of the United States is in a deep freeze. While humans can walk down the hall to the bathroom, our four legged friends still need to go outside. In some cases that may be harder than usual.

Here are a few tips to make 'going' easier for your dog.

Location. Like a good movie shoot, location matters, said Hayden Nevill, DVM, a Veterinarian with Mt. McKinley Animal Hospital in Fairbanks, AK. "The cold is a different kind of normal for Alaska," said Nevill. "The lower 48s are not used to this kind of cold weather. We're used to six solid months of very cold weather and, often, at least one month at -20."

Another way to get your dog out of the door, Nevill said, is to choose their favorite location and shovel a plot of snow away. This will make it less of a deterrent for going outside. And, after each trip, ensure the area is really clean.

"Dogs like to play with frozen poop," said Nevill.

Use a phrase. Set the stage for going outdoors, he said. "Develop a phrase for the dog. Try something like 'Do you want to go potty?'" Do this before putting the leash on so they know you're ready to let them go outside.

Clothing optional. In Alaska, because the state ends up in a deep freeze more often, clothing isn't always optional. But elsewhere, you'll want to decide if adding an extra layer is worth it.

"A sweater and booties are a good way to keep your dog warm during the colder days. I put little booties on my Chihuahua because walking on the cold ground stings his little feet. And he doesn't like that."

Dog booties are commonplace in Alaska, Neville said, but if you don't want to spend the money for specialized paw covers, try baby socks for small dogs or human socks for bigger dogs. To keep them in place wrap a little medical tape around the top of the booties. But, Nevill cautioned, be sure to take them off when the dog comes back indoors to avoid the dog chewing or ingesting the tape or fabric.

Sweaters are a good enhancement, but you can never go wrong with covering their paws.

Treat 'em right. Incentives are rarely a bad decision, he said. "Treats are a good idea. However, some dogs may want to go pee 47 times a day, so be careful," joked Nevill. So treat with care.

Go indoors. With small dogs, you may be able to get away with letting them go indoors when it's brutally cold. Nevill suggested layering newspapers or buying wee-wee pads.

"It's OK for a few days, but you don't want to make it a habit, lest they lose their potty training," he said.

When it's really cold outside you may end up with an instant stream of frozen pee from your dog, but it's probably better than cleaning up a mess inside.