Now that winter has arrived, do you plan to feed your dog more or less than you normally do in the spring and summer? Are you planning on feeding them the same food? Is your dog as active in the winter as they are the rest of the year? Will your dog be living outdoors, or housed inside when the temperatures drop below freezing?

Why do we ask these questions? Because, dogs (and some cats) need seasonal adjustments when the weather changes.

Cold Temperatures Affect Dogs' Weight

As the temperatures drop and as snow falls, dog owners are less inclined to walk their dogs, due in part to their own discomfort in the bitter cold. When dogs are getting less exercise, they need less dietary calories from food. Otherwise, if they're fed the same amount it will result in "winter weight gain," which is unhealthy.

What about the outside dog? When dogs are housed outdoors during the winter, they shiver to maintain a constant core body temperature. Not only does shivering use a LOT of calories, but even non-shivering calorie expenditure increases when it's cold out.

Dogs need extra fat deposits to help insulate them and decrease their calorie expenditure from shivering. Additionally, dogs who are active and more acclimated to the cold do better when the temperatures get very cold.

Feeding Dogs More in the Winter

Studies have found that dogs who are subjected to low temperatures need two to three times the calories they need during moderate temperatures. This increase in caloric needs facilitates fat accumulation and insulation and compensates for the amount of calories lost from shivering and nonshivering.

Since outside dogs need more dietary fat, you may need to change their current dog food to one that is higher in fat. Otherwise, if you don't change their diet or increase how much you feed them, they could actually lose weight, which won't help protect them from the bitter cold.

Discuss your pet's dietary needs during the winter with a veterinarian near you.