04-07-2025
Beware of dog injuries from jackets and jumpers rubbing on skin in cold weather
A South Australian vet says she has noticed a spate of dogs being rubbed raw and developing open wounds from tightly fitted jackets and jumpers during recent cold weather.
Readers are advised this article includes an image of a wound some readers may find confronting.
Over the past month Mount Gambier vet Teresa Priddle has seen one dog with a cut between its back legs, another with a similar injury under its front legs, and a third with an injury to its chest.
She said jackets had their place for smaller dogs going outside in winter and going for walks during rainy weather.
But owners needed to regularly check how well they fit, particularly focusing on too-small leg holes, ill-fitting straps and velcro rubbing against the skin.
"I think the trick is to be taking the jacket on and off every day — not leaving it on 24 hours a day for days at a time," she said.
"Even checking daily that it's fitting correctly and there's no rub marks.
Prior to the past month, Dr Priddle said she had rarely seen the issue before.
"This winter, certainly, I think feels a lot colder than the previous winter so that may be a factor," she said.
University of Adelaide associate professor Susan Hazel, who specialises in research into animal welfare, behaviour and ethics, said the injury seen by Dr Priddle was "horrific" but she had not heard of similar cases.
She said the market for pet-related merchandise was going up every year.
"I suspect some of them [jackets and jumpers] are on platforms where they're just put out really rapidly without thinking of the welfare of the pet, that they might cut in and things," she said.
Dr Hazel said to consider jackets with thicker straps so the pressure from them could be better distributed on the dog's skin.
"It's not a fashion accessory. It should be something that's used to keep them dry or keep them warm," she said.
She said hot weather was more of a concern for dogs wearing jackets since they could not sweat and could develop hot spots exacerbated by moisture.
Leisa McKinnon's French bulldog Patrick has two jackets for walks and another two when at home.
She said she made sure to choose clothes that had sleeves rather than straps, or were stretchy to prevent injuries.
"Frenchies overheat pretty easily, but then they do feel the cold as well," she said.
Ian Wheller's golden retriever Otis wore a denim jacket during 2 degrees Celsius weather on Wednesday.
He said it was more of a fashion statement than a necessity because of his dog's thick coat.
"It's got nice, big armholes for him so it's quite comfortable on him. It doesn't bother him at all," Mr Wheller said.
