6 Best Winter Dog Coats and Dog Snowsuits for Wheelchair Pets

When the plummeting winter temperatures hit, pet parents know it’s time to pull out the winter dog coats and dog snowsuits. These cute and cozy jackets for dogs are a great way to make walks, bathroom breaks, and outdoor playtime fun when it’s cold outside. If you’re trying to find the best dog coats and snowsuits for your wheelchair dog, I’ve got 6 top-rated products to share.

This post contains affiliate links. Read more here.

Note: As an Amazon Associate some of the links in this article are affiliate links.

Finding the right outerwear for a dog who walks with wheels is a bit trickier than an able-bodied pooch, but very doable. The most important thing to look for is: the right size and style of the snowsuit so your dog can walk comfortably in their wheelchair.

Another important concern for paraplegic pets is to make sure their paws are covered while they’re outdoors. Paralyzed dogs don’t have feelings in their limbs. They won’t realize when their extremities get dangerously cold. Their paralysis makes it easy to develop frostbite.

Cold weather health risks

The ASPCA says that cold winter weather can be as hard on our dogs as it is on us. Even dogs with thick fur or an undercoat are susceptible to developing hypothermia and frostbite if they aren’t protected.

• Hypothermia – Hypothermia is a life-threatening condition that happens when a dog or even a human is exposed to extremely cold weather for a period of time. It causes their body temperature to drop and their heart rate to slow down. The condition can eventually cause death if the body doesn’t receive heat.

• Frostbite – Frostbite is an injury to the skin and underlying tissue when an animal has been in the cold too long. The condition can permanently damage the skin, muscles, and bones. It can also lead to amputation of the injured area.

The ASPCA recommends that pet owners’ towel-dry their dog’s body, legs and paws after coming in from outside and that paw balm be applied to the pads for added protection.

Choose a dog coat based on your pet’s lifestyle

Before you buy a jacket for your dog, it’s a good idea to consider these 3 questions:

• How well does your dog stay warm without a winter coat?

• How active is your dog when he plays outdoors?

• Do you live in a cold, wet, or windy climate?

Features to look for in a dog coat

Just like winter coats for humans, jackets for dogs have lots of features to choose from. Here’s a list for you to review:

• Waterproof

• Windproof

• Well-Insulated

• Fleece Lined

• Full Coverage Snowsuits

• Extreme Weather Snowsuits

How to ensure the proper fit

It’s important that your dog’s outerwear fits well and is comfortable. That means it doesn’t restrict their movement or vision, in any way. You’ll also want to be sure your pup is able to walk in their wheelchair while wearing their new jacket and that you’ve added warm dog boots for protection.

Most coat manufacturers will ask you to measure your dog to ensure a proper fit. That entails using a tape measure to size your dog from the neck to the tail and a taking second measurement around the thickest part of their torso. 

My picks for the best winter dog coats and dog snowsuits:

My favorite dog boots

There are too many dog boots in the marketplace to count, but I’ve been a fan of two of them for a long, long time. Walkaboots and JAWZ boots are made by Walkabout Harnesses and I love both of them.

Read more about handling winter weather and paralyzed dogs.

Click below to enter the Dog Wheelchair LIFE Shop