Dogs are their owners' treasures, and everyone hopes they can grow up healthy and happy. How to effectively keep dogs warm in winter has become the most concerning matter for pet owners. Many pet owners have also fallen into misconceptions about keeping dogs warm. Regarding this, veterinarians have provided corrections one by one.

Teddy Dog (detailed introduction)

　　Misconception 1: All Dogs Should Wear Clothes

　　In a pet store in the western district, a lady was picking clothes for a beautiful Shih Tzu. The reporter saw several styles including cotton and down jackets. "There are also small sweaters at home!" said the lady, "It has been taken care of meticulously since it was young. When it's cold, we must quickly buy several thick clothes to keep it warm."

　　Veterinarian's comment: Dogs are furry animals and naturally have cold resistance. Therefore, not all dogs need to wear clothes in winter. For example, adult dogs with thick or long fur do not need clothes. Wearing too many clothes can prevent heat from dissipating, making dogs prone to catching a cold. On the contrary, dogs with particularly fine fur and puppies still weaning or just weaned can appropriately add one or two layers of clothing.

　　Misconception 2: Heated Blankets in Dog Beds

　　As the weather gradually gets colder, various priced plush dog beds have become popular in pet stores, and a special electric heated blanket equipped in the dog bed has also become popular among many pet owners.

　　Veterinarian's comment: As mentioned above, dogs have natural cold resistance and can protect themselves better indoors. Since modern pet dogs are spoiled, owners can prepare some cotton dog beds especially for young puppies in winter, but electric heated blankets are unnecessary. They not only interfere with the dog's normal self-cold protection functions but also increase safety risks such as electric shocks.

　　Misconception 3: Putting Shoes and Hats on Dogs

　Cotton, plastic, leather, and artificial leather shoes for dogs of different materials and styles were seen in many pet stores. At a pet store on Friendship Road, Miss Li was choosing shoes for her little Pekingese. She chose a pink cotton shoe and finally equipped it with a pink little hat. "I heard the winter this year is cold, so I prepared shoes and hats for my dog first."

　　Veterinarian's comment: Putting shoes and hats on pet dogs is unnecessary decoration. If dogs wear shoes for a long time, especially with non-breathable artificial leather or plastic shoes, it can cause eczema. Moreover, dogs dislike wearing shoes; most of them won’t walk properly, may fall, and will try to bite the shoes off. If shoes must be worn for beauty or cleanliness, they must be removed immediately when returning home.

　　Misconception 4: Bathing Dogs More Often

　In winter, people like to stay in the bathroom to keep warm, thinking dogs also like this way. At several pet stores, the reporter randomly interviewed some pet owners who said that since dogs go out less in cold weather and stay indoors longer, they bathed them often to keep warm and clean. "Bathe every three to four days, no one thinks it's dirty," said Miss Li, owner of a little Pekingese.

　　Veterinarian's comment: After entering winter, bathing dogs about once every half month is recommended. Bathing too frequently can easily cause dogs to catch colds and suffer from various winter-prone diseases. When bathing dogs, use shampoos or bath liquids specially made for dogs and avoid human shampoos or body wash. This is because the pH of dog fur and human skin differs greatly, preventing hair loss and skin peeling.