The (Surprising) Health Benefits of Dressing Your Dog
There’s a tendency to assume putting your dog in clothing is a completely frivolous practice, but clothing can actually be helpful when it comes to managing your pet’s skin allergies, post-surgery wound care, and possible anxiety.
As humans, we wear clothing not only as a way to protect ourselves against the elements, but also as a way to express our individuality. The same goes for dogs. Sort of. Beyond a feeling of fashion, clothing for dogs can be useful. It serves a purpose. Take, for instance, a dog’s vulnerable paws in winter. Booties may look cute, but they’re also protective against ruthless road salt and caustic ice melt. Come summertime, when the asphalt is so hot you could fry an egg on the street, protecting your dog’s feet here, too, also comes in handy. Not all dog breeds will require these same kinds of clothing, but there are other advantages, too.
Beyond protecting your dog from rain, snow, sleet, and as a way to regulate their body temperature, dog clothing can be useful if...
Your Dog Has a Skin Allergy
Dog shirts can be useful for those dogs who can’t stop (or won’t stop) scratching, itching, chewing, licking, or biting. As simple as it is, a cotton barrier offers plenty of protection against nails breaking the skin and leading to a possible infection.
Your Dog Needs Post-Op Wound Care
We’ve all had to endure the sad look our pets give us when we velcro on that dreaded cone of shame. In this instance, clothing can be a completely comfortable alternative to the E-collar. These are usually made out of a highly elastic fabric and give your dog more mobility and the option to eat freely. Call them Recovery Suits. Call them Wound Protectors. Even a Hey Jerry Smoothie Onesie will work!
Your Dog Gets Nervous
This one of using clothing to combat anxiety is two-fold. There’s research that shows beyond regulating body heat, the sensation of wearing clothes may calm and console a dog who is nervous or anxious. (Think: thunderstorms, fireworks, gun shots, sirens, trash trucks, vacuum cleaners smoke alarms, etc.) These include the Calming Coat, Happy Hoodie, Anxiety Vests, or the ThunderShirt. If your dog gets anxious or nervous when you leave, try leaving a piece of your clothing with your scent on it as a comfort for them while you’re away.
As you can see, there are many advantages and options when it comes to dog clothing. Of course, as with anything medically-related, this content is not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinarian advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your veterinarian with any questions you may have regarding the medical condition of your pet.