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Step 1
Have your dog wear a sweater. Some people may not like the idea of putting clothes on their dog, but this is strictly for warmth purposes. The winter weather can make elderly dogs feel sore if they get too cold. A sweater, even when it’s worn for a few minutes, can keep the frigid chill away from the dog and keep him warm.
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Step 2
Add extra warmth to your dog's bed. Whether it’s getting him a heated bed or just adding a nice, thick blanket, the extra cover will help to keep the dog warmer so it can get a comfortable nights sleep and not have the cold affect him when he sleeps. An elderly dog needs to have extra cover to keep them warm in the winter months in order to make sure that their body doesn’t get sore and stiff.
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Step 3
Wash off the pads of your dogs feet with warm water when they come in. Since the dog is stepping directly on the ground, their feet can get horribly cold. If they catch a chill it can affect their health. In addition to warming up their paws, you are removing any rock salt that built up on the bottom of the dogs feet which could cause the pads to crack. Apply Vaseline to prevent cracking and to help heal already cracked pads.
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Step 4
Never take the dog out longer than necessary. It is dangerous to the health of an elderly dog to be out in the cold weather for too long. As soon as they go to the bathroom, they should be brought back in. Even when they go for walks, the time should be kept to a minimum.
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Step 5
Be careful of the dog going up and down stairs. Older dogs aren’t as spry as younger dogs. If they step on a small patch of ice on the stairs, they could easily slip, fall, and get injured. Keep your eye out for any patches of ice on any stairs that your dog is going up or down.
