Soon it’ll be winter, and once again, we’d all be putting on our hoodies and gloves, walking knee-deep in snow. Just as you protect yourself from the chill, pets also need special care during winter for them to stay comfortable through it all. To be honest, these can be such terrifying times for your little four-legged friend.
To ensure your pet has an enjoyable winter, here are ways to keep them comfortable.
1. Cloth your Pet
While making yourself comfortable in a hoodie, don’t forget about your little furry friend. Whether a cat or dog, you can always find fanciful shirts for pets to keep your little friend warm during winter. This is very important, especially since you’d still need to go on walks with your pet during winter to provide them some stimulation.
While keeping your pet warm outdoors, you’d also make them look so much prettier.
2. Keep them warm with physical activity
Most pets would be very averse to venture out in the cold. This would pose a challenge since it becomes difficult to engage them in those outdoor physical activities you usually engage them with. Now’s the time to take it indoors. Give them as much action as they can take to keep them warm. You know, just the way you sweat after exercising in the cold.
3. Check for snow in their paws
A dog’s toes, tail, and ears are very much prone to frostbite. Once you return from a walk outdoors, check your dog’s paws for snow. Also, check their tail and ears. You can even go as far as wearing boots for your pet to protect them from some toxic ice melts, such as deicers. If pets lick their paws after walking on such chemicals, they may be at risk.
Not all pets would want to wear boots, so never forget to wipe their paws with a towel when you get indoors.
4. Adjust their diet to make up for changes in activity level
While some dogs hate the snow, some pretty much love to play in it. For such pets, winter would be a time in which their physical activity increases. It’s therefore essential to increase pets’ caloric intake in winter to provide them with the energy they need. This shouldn’t be too difficult to do because most pet diets have their nutritional information calibrated.
For pets that don’t like the snow and consequently play less, they can do with fewer calories during winter. But it would help if you also tried to engage them as much as you could.
5. Place barriers around heat sources
Pets like to cuddle up near heat sources in winter. But they’re not aware of how hot such materials can be, so they’re ready to get as close as possible. Your pet can become at risk of burns. To prevent pets from jumping into a wood-burning stove or curling next to a radiator, block off access to such appliances.
6. Warm and cozy bedding always
Again, your pet will cuddle up a lot during winter, especially the ones averse to the snow. But the cold, hard floor can make your dog or cat sick. Ensure their beddings are always warm and dry so they can jump in and get a comfortable sleep whenever they want. Also, arrange their sleeping place in a warm spot, such as on top of a rug. Instead of changing their sleeping area in winter to somewhere unfamiliar, you can place the carpet underneath the bedding.
7. Change their drinking water often
It’s easy to leave your pet’s drinking water unchanged for a long time because it still looks full. That’s because, like us, pets don’t get very thirsty when it’s cold. And as long as the water remains on the floor, it gets cold and undesirable for your pet. You can set the alarm to go off every 5 hours to remind you of your dog’s water bowl.
8. On the lead, always
Cold weather can particularly bring reduced visibility for dogs. If you let them off the lead, your pet can go astray if they’re in unfamiliar territory. So you want to keep them on a leash at all times during your outdoor walks.
Furthermore, remember to update your pet’s microchips so that they’re easily found if they get lost in terrible weather.
9. Reduce your pet’s bathing frequency in winter
Moisturizer becomes your best buddy in the colder months, but your pet doesn’t have that luxury. Frequent baths can dry out your pet’s skin just like it does yours. But that doesn’t mean you should cancel their bath sessions altogether till Spring. Besides, some pets require as many baths as they can get because of their allergy and smell. Just keep it minimal as dry skin can present some discomfort.
We are happier when comfortable. It’s the same for pets. And winter is a season that tends to be unfriendly most times. But preparation is key.
Prepare your home for winter by insulating it, get the winter safety checklist such as blankets and flashlights in case you get stranded in a blizzard, and keep your pet warm at all times.
Hope you found the article useful! Happy winters!
Leave a Reply