Blue Northers and Old Dogs: Senior Pet Care Through a South Plains Winter

Anyone who has spent a winter in Lubbock knows the blue norther. It is a mild, sunny afternoon, and then the sky to the north turns a hard dark blue, the wind swings around, and within an hour or two the temperature has dropped sharply. By evening it can be freezing, with wind pushing dust or sleet across the open country.

Young, healthy dogs usually handle these swings fine with a little shelter. Older pets and those with illnesses often do not. If you are caring for a senior dog or cat this winter, here is how to keep them comfortable when the weather turns.

Watch the forecast, not just the thermometer

On the South Plains, the temperature at noon tells you little about the temperature at midnight. Keep an eye on the forecast during fall and winter, and plan ahead on days when a front is expected. Bring older outdoor dogs inside or into a sheltered garage before the front arrives, rather than waiting until the wind is already howling.

Wind is the real problem

Lubbock is windy, and a strong north wind takes heat away from a body far faster than still air at the same temperature. Senior pets, especially thin ones or those with less muscle, can get chilled quickly. If your dog spends time outside, a well-built shelter that blocks the wind, sits off the ground and has dry bedding makes a big difference. Straw stays drier than blankets in a damp shelter; indoors, blankets are fine.

• Face the shelter opening away from the north wind
• Keep bedding dry and replace it if it gets wet
• Check that water has not frozen
• Bring very old, thin or ill pets inside on cold nights

Comfort indoors

Older dogs with arthritis often stiffen up on cold days. A thick bed away from drafty doors, rugs on slick floors, and a sweater or coat for short trips outside can help. Cats tend to look for warm spots; a covered bed or a box with a blanket in a sunny window is often welcome. Be careful with space heaters and heating pads, since a pet with limited mobility may not move away if something gets too warm.

Dust days and breathing

When the wind kicks up dust ahead of a front, animals with heart or lung problems may have a harder time. Keep them indoors during heavy dust, and contact your veterinarian if you notice coughing, labored breathing or unusual tiredness.

Farm and ranch animals getting older

Many families around Lubbock, Slaton, Wolfforth and Shallowater have dogs and barn cats who have lived outside their whole lives. As those animals age, they may need a change of routine: a warm spot in the shop, a bed in the mudroom, or simply being let inside on the worst nights. It can feel strange to bring an old ranch dog indoors, but many of them settle in gratefully.

Noticing decline

Cold weather can make the effects of aging more obvious. A dog who no longer wants to get up in the morning, a cat who stops grooming, or a pet who seems to struggle more with each front may be telling you that their body is wearing down. Keep your veterinarian informed, and consider keeping a simple daily note of good and hard days.

When a pet dies in cold weather

If an older pet dies during a winter storm or a cold night, keep their body somewhere cool and sheltered, wrapped in a blanket, until you can make arrangements. Cold weather gives you a little more time than summer heat, so you do not need to rush. Call us when you are ready, day or night, and we can arrange pickup from your home anywhere in Lubbock and the surrounding communities.

A South Plains winter can be rough, but with a little planning, an old friend can spend it warm, safe and close to you.

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