Herald Sun ‖ Kelly Ryan
HOT diggity dog - it's amazing the lengths some pet owners will go to keep their animals safe and warm in winter.

Proud dachshund owner Sar Coster searched high and low for extra long, fleece-lined Driza-Bone coats for her pampered pooches Ernestina and Klaus.

The dogs like to walk several times a day - rain, hail or shine.

"Dachshunds in particular have thin coats - and weatherproof jackets with woolly insides were essential to keep them dry," Ms Coster said.

Sporting their own fur coats is not total protection from winter woes for Victoria's domestic pets, according to the experts.

Cats can suffer life-threatening injuries in winter when they are more likely to huddle in car engine cavities for warmth and unsuspecting motorists start their cars.

And dogs are at risk of a range of ailments and illnesses in the colder months.

Animal Aid has warned pet owners to ensure their four-legged friends are warm to stop them seeking out heat in dangerous places.

Coats, jumpers, heat pads, well-wrapped hot water bottles, blankets and cocoon beds are among the most popular ways to help heat a cold pet.

Animal Emergency Centre veterinary director Cathy Warburton said owners should also be wary of veterinary problems specific to dogs in winter.

Rat bait poisoning, tick paralysis and bloating are among the likely threats to dogs.

"People lay rat bait in winter to deal with rats who also want to come in from out of the cold," Dr Warburton said. "It is a ticking time bomb because the dog digests the bait but it then takes a couple of days to take effect."

Poisoned dogs are likely to bleed into the chest and symptoms include coughing or laboured breathing.

Vets also see a surge in dogs presenting paralysed from tick bites.

"Victorians escaping the cold head to towns along the NSW coast and we see a surge in dogs with tick paralysis soon after they return home from the winter school holiday break.

"Dogs from Melbourne on holiday in NSW are not immune to ticks found there and after every school holiday, we get a run of tick paralysis."

Animal Aid general manager Nell Thompson said people must protect their pets from the cold and there were plenty of ways of doing that.

"When temperatures begin to drop to single figures at night, we should recognise that dogs and cats deserve the same basic needs that humans require, without compromise," he said.