Snow - Does it affect dogs?

[Brontie]

My mum said that the snow can make dogs legs shake? But i wondered if this is true or not, as I love taking my dog out in the snow?
Im aware its a BAD Idea to take them out on gritted roads as the salt affects their pads, but does the snow?

Thanks in advance
Nick

 

[GinaB]

Beastie dog loves going out in the snow! She has never had a problem

 

[FinnishLapphund]

According to my vet it is sort of true, it happened to one of my late dogs many years ago, though it hasn't got to do with the snow, it's to do with the temperature difference.

If you have it really warm and cosy indoors, lets say between 22 to 24 degrees and you put on your jacket, shoes and take the dog to go out for a walk and outside is maybe -5 or -10 degrees. Then, snow or no snow, the exercise in combination with the temperature differences between in- and out-door, can cause a perfectly healthy dog legs to start to shake.
Besides keeping it a little cooler indoors, then if I remember correctly, it helped if you started up the walk a little slower so the dog sort of get a warm up phase.

Most dogs doesn't ever get this reaction, but some do. But once I knew, we lowered our indoor temperature to about 18 degrees during winter, started our walks in slower pace and it never happened again. So I would definitely not say it's anything wrong with snow and dogs.


Keep on walking Brontie.

 

[woolly]

never affected ours as he was always too hot so we never had any heating on ever, so it was often warmer outside our house than inside lol!

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

Sweep's legs were shaking today - but I put that down to the fact he had been playing in the snow for nearly an hour with my neices while they were tobogganing - he was also tobagganing with them!! Was running around like a looney so it certainly wasn't bothering him and no lasting effects as he is sitting next to me on the sofa begging for malteasers!