chilly California winter, I wonder, does my furry friend need a sweater too?

With all that fur, you would think dogs and cats have natural insulation and I mean sweaters

look pretty silly, so are they necessary?

Just like people, tolerance to cold varies from dog to dog, some breeds might have more

insulating fat, others might have denser fur. But no dog can withstand winter weather with

the exceptions of some breeds like the sheepdog, Chow Chow, St. Bernards, and Huskies.

Huskies are especially built for the cold. They double up their fur to stay warm. The

undercoat is soft and fluffy for insulation while the top coat is coarser and protects

the undercoat from ice and snow buildup. They can live and work in temperatures as low as

75 degrees BELOW ZERO.

A Newfoundland might not need an extra layer either, they grow out hair in locks, which

provides another natural layer of warmth. So much so, they don’t mind swimming in

near freezing temps! On the other hand, smaller, lighter dog breeds might need some help as

they usually have less body fat. Dogs with shorter hair dogs like chihuahuas and older

dogs that struggle more to maintain their body temperature probably need an extra layer.

Listen to your pet. If they seem hesitant to go do their business in the cold, try bundling

them up.

If you live in an especially snowy area, a buildup of ice or snow can cause some nasty

abrasions on their feet. Try some booties which help protect their paws, plus you might

get some good Vines out of your dog prancing in their boots. They look like such nerds.

Cats can get cold more easily than dogs actually. Their body temperatures run hot, while we’re

98.1 degrees, cats run a toasty 101.5. This means their range of comfy temperatures is

20 degrees hotter than ours, their thermoneutral zone ranges from 86 to 97 degrees. Most houses

seem pretty chilly to cats at just 73.4 degrees. So it doesn’t take winter weather for them

to feel cold. Cats can be pretty fussy, so a feline sweater is probably not the best

option. Boxes are best. It’s no secret cats like boxes,they

make them feel safer by giving them a place to hide, but it also keeps them warm. Corrugated

cardboard is an especially good insulator, so there’s no need to buy a fancy cat pod,

just check your recycle bin!

On the extreme end of things, severe cold can be deadly for pets - just like it is for

humans. If left in the cold too long, dogs and cats risk hyperthermia, especially if

their coats get wet. They expend too much energy in keeping warm and their blood pressure

drops dangerously. Which might lead to cardiac arrest. This is terrible keep your pet inside.

So getting back to our original question: does your pet need a sweater?

Depends on the dog, depends on the temperature. Small dogs, dogs with little fur, or elderly

dogs, yeah. they could use one. But it also depends on the sweater, I mean if it’s an

especially adorable sweater. OF COURSE they need it.

So please don’t leave your pets out in the winter, if you do, provide them with adequate

shelter. There’s a link below that tells you how to do just that.

What do you think? Would you put your pooch in a sweater? Or is it silly? Let us know

in the comments below. Hit the subscribe and check back every day for more DNews.