Caring For Your Pet During the Winter | Kissed By Dogs Blog

When the cold days start setting in, you know that you have to take care to bundle up and to avoid getting sick, but did you know that you should take the same precautions for your pet as well? Just like people, animals are strongly affected by winter, and if you have pets, now is the time to start thinking about how you can make them comfortable and keep them healthy during the long winter months. Learn a few basic tips to keep your animals in good shape this winter.

First, before the winter sets in, take them to the veterinarian. Your veterinarian can make sure that they are not going to have problems that will get bigger as it gets colder and you will find that if they do, now is the time to treat them. This is essential if your dog or cat is older. Conditions like arthritis are going to make your pets? joints very sensitive and tender in the cold months, and it will also make them more clumsy. If they jump up on things, they can miss or stumble and hurt themselves. Make sure that your older pets have comfortable and warm sleeping spots on the floor.

When the temperature starts dropping, keep your dogs and cats indoors as much as you can. If you do need to take them outside, keep them on a leash and stay with them at all times. Remember that if there is a reason for you to leave them outside, they need a warm shelter against the wind, and this shelter should have bedding and a water source. A hot water bottle wrapped in a towel can help keep them comfortable as well. Remember that long haired breeds like huskies will tend to do better than short haired breeds like Great Danes, and keeping them indoors can be an important factor in keeping them healthy.

After your pet has returned from the outdoors, check its footpads. Because of the way dogs? paws are built, things like rock salt, ice and chemical melts can get caught in their fur and between their toes. If they are allowed to set in, they can leave your dog?s feet feeling raw and rough. Even worse, dogs who try to lick these chemicals away can give themselves an inflamed digestive tract, so make sure that you take good care of them.

Just like you would dress a toddler, remember that a dog sweater can be a very helpful way to keep your dog warm. A dog sweater is easy to get and if your dog will tolerate wearing it, you will find that it can make them much more comfortable. Some dogs even love wearing a collar because it means that they are going to go outside. Do remember, though, that dogs mostly lose heat through their footpads, which come in contact with the cold ground. Make sure you learn more about how you can keep your pet comfortable during the winter; this is something that can make a huge difference!

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