Tips on keeping your American Bully warm in winter
As the winter weather approaches, American Bullies, Exotic Bullies and similar Bull breeds with short hair and short coated dogs with short muzzle are not well suited to the cold temperatures. Extreme cold weather can be as fatal as extreme hot weathers for Bully Breeds.
Here are some tip to keep your American Bully dog warm, cosy and comfortable during the cold winter months.
- Watch and Monitor your American Bully and Exotic Bully behaviour
Keeping your American Bully and Exotic bully indoor is ideal during the cold winter months. If you do need to keep them outside for any reason always monitor the temperature and watch for any behaviour changes.
A great indication to know if your American Bully is feeling cold, watch out for sign such as shivering, trembling, cold ears, curling up, slow movement, change of skin colour, whining, extreme sleepiness or lethargy. If the weather is too cold for you, it’s most likely too cold for your American Bully and Exotic Bully.
- Monitor the temperature
A general rule of thumb to use is, if the outdoor temperature is too cold for a human to be comfortable, it’s too severe for your dog. At around 12 – 15 degrees Celsius (53 – 59 degrees Fahrenheit) most pets will probably be quite safe. At 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit), you need to keep an eye on them as it can be potentially unsafe depending on their age, general health, and breed. 7 degrees Celsius (44 degrees Fahrenheit) indicates that there is certainly potential danger, and at four degrees Celsius (39 degrees Fahrenheit) the temperature is potentially life-threatening. Animals shouldn’t have prolonged periods outdoors when temperatures are as low as this. Temperatures lower than 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit) can cause hypothermia or frostbite.
- Plenty of shelter either Insulated or some form of heating, such as heater, heat lamps, a soft bedding and Blankets.
An insulated shelter, like a kennel or enclosed area for your Bullies Dog and a dry warm bed for him/her to sleep away from drafts, elevating their bed off cold floors will help in keeping them warm and prevent moisture from seeping into their blankets. Adding pillows or old towels to the bottom of their beds give them an extra layer of protection against ground chill. For maximum heat retention place the blankets in a doughnut shape with space for your dog to curl up in the centre.
Always make sure that any form of heater and heat lamps are safely secured and property installed to avoid any hazards to the building, surrounding and your dog.
If the temperatures get extremely cold, you should still consider bringing your American Bully and Exotic Bully dog inside, for safety and health reasons.
- Warm clothing (coats and jumpers)
Dog Jackets, Coats and Sweaters are generally the first-line defence against the cold, and they work pretty well in keeping your American Bully and Exotic Bullies warm. If you live in certain part of Australia that sees regular frost or even snow, snow booties may be ideal.
- Extra food and fresh water
During the colder months as American Bullies need more energy to keep themselves warm. These extra calories are needed to keep their core body temperature regulated. Always monitor their extra calories intake, too much and they can be overweight, so adjust accordingly, and consult your vet for best dietary advice. Have plenty of fresh water handy and check and replace regularly as sometime water can turn into ice.
- Snuggles and Cuddles time
And last but not least, snuggling and cuddling up together. This keeps them and yourself warm while watching, reading, sipping tea (or your favourite beverage) and a lifelong bond together. Who said winter has to be boring when you have a American Bully or Exotic Bully to snuggle with.
