How do I keep my dog's blanket on at night? She's 16, we get up 2 or 3 times at night to go outside, but I have to check on her every couple of hours at night because she also gets up to get a drink of water or nibble on her food.
Add your voice! Click below to answer. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!
You could get your dog a sweater to wear at night.
I put a blanket on him at night when he sleeps in bed as he always does
My female Dobies have always required being covered, especially at night. In the summer they were uncomfortable from the A/C and in the winter the house was never warm enough for them.
I have a wicker sofa at the foot of my bed and during the night the girls would sleep on that. Yes, they would also get up for water, etc., or just to turn around. It was easy for me to cover them up as I didn't have to walk far. In the winter I found that one of the oil filled portable heaters near her bed helped keep her warm.
Good luck, let us know!
Jennifer
Northern Virginia
How about a pet sleeping bag? You can make it yourself and keep the cost down. You can use old wire hangers to make the opening, but be sure to wrap or insulate them first to avoid any danger. It's kind og hard to explain, so I've uploaded a picture you can download to kind of get the idea of what I mean. An old doona is perfect to use and you can always put a hot water bottle in the bottom too for extra snuggliness. If you use wire hangers and make two rings and place them in sort of a triangle, (together at the top, but apart at the bottom,) the sleeping will stay open and accessible.
Here's the link to download a picture, just to give you an idea:
The download link is only good for 25 downloads only so should it run out, I'll upload it again if anyone wants it. Just post it here and I'll upload it again. I hope you can use this idea. (PS) Leave a small opening when you sew in the wire so you can take them out when you need to wash the sleeping bag.
Can you re post the picture of the sleeping bag tent idea, it sounds awesome!
Hello,
I would love to see a picture of the sleeping bag. I tried to download but the limit had been reached. Thank you.
Carmen L.
We just had a craft show yesterday and my sister sold these little pillows she made that had rice in them. She used fleece type fabrics. You put the pillows in the microwave for about 1-2 minutes to heat them up. They are wonderful for many uses. To lay on your sore muscles or joints for pain. She made tiny ones for kids for ear aches.You can also put them in the freezer to be cold for hours too.To use on tooth aches head aches, etc.
The rice makes them mold to your body structure. I used one last night on my stiff neck.It stayed warm for almost 2 hours. You can make them in any size or shape. You could make your dog one the exact size of his bed and heat it up for about 1-2 minutes then add a towel or blanket over it which will hold in the heat also. Test in first with your hand to make sure its not too hot. Some people use beans or corn for this also.But the rice is smaller and forms better when you are against it.
There's no way to wash them so after a long while just toss away and make a new one. You could also toss a towel or her sweater in the dryer for a bit right before bed and put it on her which will keep her warm a bit longer.
If your dog is healthy her hair should be enough to keep her warm alone. But if shes old with arthritis or takes medicines her blood circulation is low and that's why she's colder. Just like us aging humans no different. Also try warm booties for her feet made from any type fleece Even use warm baby socks on her at night.
Use a heating pad. Just make sure it's a new one & don't leave it on when noone's there. Put the heating pad on the bottom of everything. I wrapped it in a thin towel so it wouldn't damage whatever it sits on.
what about a plastic trash bag under the bedding. they have thermal blankets for dogs that are plastic. i did use the plastic bag for my first dog who was sickly. also maybe a hot water bottle placed well away from claws under blankets.
I don't know how big your dog is - but if she's small why not try a cat igloo - she has protection all the way round then and will be a bit more snug - also maybe try not to let her have nibblies during the night that way she won't be tempted to leave her nice warm bed - without the nibblies she may not require as much water overnight
A dog really doesnt need to cover up at night. His fur is a natural coat for him and is usually sufficient in keeping him warm inside a house.
My mom and dad's dog was a short hair. When she got older she wanted to be covered up too. To solve this my mom would put an old sweatshirt on her. It allowed her to stay cozy warm. Depending on the size of the dog you may have to cut the sleeves shorter for the front legs, or you may just want to get childrens sized sweatshirts.
Precious baby.. I have an older dog too, so I completely understand this. Can you put a doggie sweater on her at night? That seems the best solution to me. That way she will stay covered and cozy!
Thank you all for your good ideas. I'm tired from this. I need my sleep. I think I'll make her a little sweater from the fleece I also use for her blankets. I have an oil-filled heater but she's developed cataracts in the past 6 months, and she walks into things - can't risk her tipping it over and hurting herself. Heating pad under her blankets also is a possibility - I'll see if she'll put up with it. I already have a vinyl exercise pad under her blankets. I'll also try the water bottle, but I think she wants to be covered up. She whines a little with each exhaled breath until she's warm again. And you're right about her eating at night - I'm trying to exercise her more during the day so she eats more in the evening and nibbles less during the night, so we're not so busy during the night. Until this, she never wanted any special treatment - she'd jump off my lap before I was done petting her, very sweet but very independent. Thank you all for your suggestions.
Either make or buy the dog a sweater or coat and put it on the dog at night. Add more warmth with a heating bad under her regular blanket.
I wouldn't leave an electric blanket on all night for your dog because if your dog has a little 'accident' it might short out the blanket and catch fire.
I agree with the moderator. Just put a doggie sweater on your dog or one of your old sweatshirts. Also, pick up the food and water a couple of hours prior to bedtime. Your dog is now in the habit of going out several times during the night and you must break that habit so all of you can get some sleep!! Take her out for the last time right before you go to bed and let that be it. If she is 'piddling' then you might try putting a doggie diaper on her just at night.
Here's a new fresh download link for the picture of the sleeping bag
HOT WATER BOTTLES - When our power went out for 5 days we stayed warm with hot water bottles under our covers. (the old fashioned red kind) If you first warm the hot water bottle with hot tap water, while you are boiling water on the stove. Then fill the hot water bottle with boiling water. Then wrap the water bottle in a large towel. Put the water bottle with the towel around it into your dog's bed. He can either lay next to it or on top of it. Hot water bottles will stay warm for about 6 hours, maybe longer if he lays on top of it. You can even use 2 or 3 of these around him. You can buy hot water bottles in any Drug Store. (they cost about $10 - $12) Make sure the cap is on tightly & wrap it up good, so he won't chew on it.
* Way back in the 1950's my boyfriend grew up in an old farm house without heat on the top floor. Every night his mother would put him to bed with a thick glass bottle, wraped in a towel. She put it at the foot of his bed to warm his feet. It worked great & he still has found memories of this! Even though the hot water bottle was at the bottom of the bed, it helped warm him & his whole bed.
One more idea: My son had an very large iguana & he bought a heater that was made for wet pet cages... You'd have to use a heavy duty outdoor professional construction extension cord, but these iguana heaters are made to stay at the correct temperature & for iguanas to lay on top of (about 90% or there abouts) They also have fake rocks that get warm for iguanas & snakes to lay on to keep their body temp up.
* Also, at Walmart, Target, Home Depot & other home stores, they sell radiators (like in the very old days) These radiators cost about $40 & are filled with self contained oil. The oil gets warm or hot, (you can set the temp) but there is no fan, no heating elements & no dangerous heater to tip over. If the dog is on a porch, this would work. If the dog is in a dog house you might have to bury the electric cord in a PVC pipe underground. & secure it to the dog house so he won't tip it over.
Here's a picture of it:
www.target.com/
3-speed space heater with automatic shutoff and adjustable thermostat
Ergonomically designed handle for easy carrying
Heavy-gauge steel
UL listed
25Hx6.5Wx15D"
-----> Please be very wary of "electric blankets, heating pads" or anything else the dog could chew through & electrocute himself with.
* ALSO: If your dog is in a dog house, you could either insulate the dog house with Styrofoam insulation for about $10, (it comes in many thickness') or at least line it with mylar or a "space blanket".
Thanks so much for your ideas. Doggie and I made it through a really cold. snowy Jan. and Feb. ok. I turned up the furnace 5 degrees, kept the oil-filled space heater on all night, and used all the exercise mats, fleece blankets and rugs she would put up with. They're all washable. I didn't use a heating pad - too risky - but I'm intrigued by the iguana heater. Thanks again.
Hey could you please post that picture of the sleeping bag again? Thanks
Oh I'm so sorry, but I don't have the picture anymore. I found something online though that looks a lot like it. Check out the little picture at the top too, to see what I mean about reinforcing the opening, if you need it to stay more open.
www.trixieandpeanut.com/
Alternatively, here are some heated beds too:
www.catsplay.com/
Also, if you just google "pet sleeping bag" you can find a lot of inspiration online. Being a bit thrifty, you can mix and combine the ideas to suit your particular pet. (Mine need the doorway a bit open or they just lay on top e.g.)
www.google.com/
Sorry I didn't have the pic anymore, but I hope the links can inspire you anyway. :o)
I have a dog too. She is very old. She has this same problem. I hope you can find my answers useful.
1. Get a hot water bottle and get or make a cover for it like a little stuffed animal. Mine is a lamb.
2. Maybe you could think about moving her food and water right next to her bed.
3. You should get her a doggie sweater.
I hope I helped you and your doggie. Love her lots!
* DO NOT USE HOT PADS BECAUSE IF SHE HAS TO GO POTTY AND DOESN'T GET UP IT COULD SET THE HOUSE ON FIRE.
I recently read about something called Snuggle safe. Heated in the microwave for 6 minutes is supposed to stay warm for 10-12 hrs.
Get the K&H Heating Pad for the Indigo Dogloo only when you are trying to keep your Dog outside below 20 degrees!
It also pays to have their Manual Thermostat regulator if you are using the pad with an "older" dog. Young dogs have no problem moving around because of too much heat. Older dogs have a problem so you must regualate the heat for them. I use mine when the temp drops to 20 or below I use the thermostat too.
Otherwise I just have the insulated dog house the door & cedar shavings , for temperatures 25 degrees and above. My dog is a long haired dog. JMHO YUMV
They make electric blankets especially for dogs and cats. If you Google Pet Electric Blankets you'll find some great sites. I have one I use for my dogs that I got at Wal Mart. It has the 3-temp plus off control. What I do is; my dogs have a 4" thick doggy bed that they sleep on all year. One side is cotton, the other side is fleece so in the winter I put the fleece side up. Anyway, I put the electric blanket under their bed and turn it on low. Then I toss a "throw" size blanket on top of it. Depending on how cold it is, they either sleep under the throw or on top of it. This way though the electric blanket keeps the cold from coming up from the floor through their bed, and the throw along with their natural body heat keeps them toasty warm.
Granted I'm in NC and it doesn't get nearly as cold as in WI, but if your dog needs more heat, you could insert the electric blanket inside his bed (the slip cover that's on it) on top of the bed instead of under it. I wouldn't put the elect. blanket on top of the dog though, because the cold from the floor could still come through. Even if your floors are warm, on a 16 yr old dog, they probably get to feeling cold after being asleep for a while.
That poor dog is 16 years old, what's wrong with allowing it to sleep inside?
We use to keep one of those heat lamps suspended above our dog's bed. Don't put it too close, leave plenty of room for your dog to move in and out of the bed, just low enough so your dog can feel the heat. This worked for us.
I make covers for my old dogs beds from curtain material that has the sun block out. It reflects their own body heat thus keeping them warm without overheating. And my dogs sleep inside all year round regardless of their age.
Bring the dog inside. She has no business being out in the cold day or night. She has served you sixteen years. Let her in the house in her old age.
I bought a bunch of those swim noodles that went on sale at the end of summer. I split them in half and cut them to length and used constuction glue to mount them to the floor and walls of the dog's insulated house, then mounted one of those clip on metal lamps to the roof peak with an incadescent bulb in it. Along with his doggie bed with a body heat reflecting pad and overlapping cut clear plastic carpet runner strips on the door. By orienting the house so that the door is away from the prevailing winds and By turning the light off and on depending on the temp outside, his dog house stays in the 60's even when it gets down to 20 outside. I have tested it using one of the thermometers that record the high/low temps for the past 24 hours.
Go back to sleep. No dog irrespective of age should be living in cold conditions. And at her age she should be with an owner who will care for her in the way she deserves. Inside the house with a warm "dog coat" feed at the correct time and she will have no reason to eat during the night. She will soon cross the "rainbow bridge" and not worry anyone.
My dog was always inside with us. He was very clean, never a problem, just knew he was a very cold "natured" dog.
People should read your message before they answer.
Had they read your message they'd all know you were keeping your dog in the house at night.
Is your dog in a crate? I keep mine in a crate at night, and cover her with her blanket. My daughter made a cover for the crate leaving only the door side uncovered, so that no draft can get on her. Be sure the crate is turned where there is no draft from the air conditioner.
Add your voice! Click below to answer. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!
