COAT CHECK

Does your pup need a puffer for the winter? Maybe! Maybe not! Let’s discuss.

- LISA FREEDMAN

IT’S ABOUT TO get paws-itively chilly. Fur-eezing. While we’ll undoubtedly bundle ourselves up, the question becomes whether Bruno (Brr-uno?) needs a coat too. So we asked a few vets, who happen to live in areas with blustery winters, for their weigh-in. Here are their thoughts.

Consider the Dog

Some dogs are more susceptible than others to becoming pup-sicles, says Brian Collins, DVM, a veterinarian at Cornell University’s Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center. “Dogs with thick, long double coats, like Siberian huskies, are going to tolerate and even enjoy the cold more than a chihuahua or Italian greyhound,” he says, adding that smaller dogs lose body heat faster than larger dogs. “This is not to say that a small, short-haired dog never enjoys the cold or snow—just that they may have a lower tolerance.” Puppies, older dogs, skinny ones, or those with preexisting medical conditions, such as heart or respiratory issues or arthritis, may also be less cold tolerant.