Expert: Have4Paws - 1/23/2011

Question
Me and my 5 month old beagle live in upstate NY. It is cold up here!
My lil Holly shivers ALOT. After her walk, she doesn't start to shiver until we have been inside for 5 minutes. Then she just shakes and shakes and shakes. I believe this is from the cold but can't explain in the delay of the shivers. She also thinks nothing of climbing under three blankets and sleeping all night. I once owned a small dog that needed 'sugar' in a tube to bring her sugar levels up. Could this be what is wrong with Holly or is just the time of the year? She also has alot of trouble walking in the snow. We have bought her snow boots that she will not keep on her feet. Is there something we can do to take the discomfort away for her?

Answer
HI thanks for writing to me. First off I think she needs to be checked out by the vet to make sure there arent any medical issues. The bad thing about walking a dog in the snow is that their feet can quickly freeze, the pads of their feet are very tender... doing that over and over again can cause tissue damage eventually. So you need to be very very careful, sometimes walking in the winter isnt a great idea. Some dogs will take on the shoes and others won't. Are you are using a sweater or thermal jacket on her as well? Other than putting boots on her I don't know what else to tell you, when Ilived in PA I just didnt walk mine during the really bad snow times.

As far as the sleeping under the covers this is normal behavior for many dogs, I live in California and my beagle sleeps under all of my covers as well, I often worry how he can breathe but he seems to do fine and if I try to give him an opening for air he will just burrow further.

Wish I could give you some better answers but this is the best I can do................