6 Tips for keeping your pet cosy and warm this winter  

31st May 2016

Just like us humans, your pet can feel the cold too. So with the sudden drop in temperature descending upon us, now might be the perfect time to look at how we can help minimise Sooty’s woes, and maximise Snoopy’s warmth.

 

1. Weather protection

If your pet prefers to be outside or is so for the majority of the time, making sure their kennel or enclosure is warm and dry is a must. Check where they sleep is in a sheltered area of the yard, such as under the pergola. The enclosure should be protected from the elements such as rain, wind and frost. There should also be plenty of clean bedding and blankets positioned off the floor and blankets laundered on a regular basis.

 

2. Use heat pads or hot water bottles

A great idea for older dogs is to provide them with a hot water bottle filled with warm water (not hot), for them to snuggle in to. Another heat source that kitty is sure to thank you for is to invest in a heat pad from your local pet supplier or vet. Heat pads are microwavable and the heat can last anywhere up to 10 hours, or you can choose to buy a self-heating pad instead. We found a great self-heated pad deal for you just here on Groupon, but it’s for a limited time only.

 

3. Avoid overfeeding

Some of us humans feel hungrier in the winter. This is down to us burning more energy as we try to stay warm. The same will go for your pet too. If you see that their appetite is increasing, it’s ok to add a little extra of their normal food to their food bowl. You could even try out one our hearty bone broth recipes. Be mindful though, not to bulk them up with fatty treats. If you need to increase their diet intake it’s important to monitor their weight to keep them healthy.

 

4. Exercise

We know! It’s hard to peel ourselves away from the heater and drag ourselves outside into the cold or wet. But Fido will thank you for it. You can thank him in too when you return home feeling revitalised whilst sporting those rosy red cheeks. Exercise is always an important daily regimen for your pet. For older dogs it’s great for keeping their joints supple and for the young ones, keeping them from boredom after having slept all day in their nice warm beds. For kitty it’s worth carving out some playtime in your day to keep them energised and warm.

 

5. Grooming

You will no doubt find Kitty or Max are shedding a lot less hair during the winter months. However it is still important to keep up with regular grooming to keep their skin and coats healthy. Likewise, their flea and heartworm control also needs to be maintained. Flea and mosquito eggs lie dormant in the winter months, but by keeping on top of their routine flea treatment will prevent the eggs around the house from hatching in the spring.

 

6. What should I wear?

The choice of attire (or none at all) for your pet can be influenced by a number of factors. If you dog is elderly or unwell, then a nice warm coat may be just what they need. Clothing choice can also come down to what type of breed of dog you own, or whether they are inside or outside dogs. It’s a contentious issue…you just have to google ‘should dogs wear clothes’ to see around 700,000 results. However, we tend to agree with PetMD on this subject.

 

”Sure, dogs come equipped with their own external layering system, but some dogs have lighter layers of fur than others, and some are not genetically suited to the environments in which they find themselves transplanted. So your dog may in fact be extremely uncomfortable with the winter temperatures […]”

 

As long as you are doing what you believe is best for your pet, then there should be no harm done. However, if you are ever in doubt about any topic of pet care it will always pay to ask your friendly vet for advice.

 

Related articles:

Breakfast of Canine Champions

Healthy Bone Broth Recipes for Your Dog

 

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