Pet Tips for the Cold Winter Months
When the weather is cold outside, you need to use extra caution to protect your pets. Just because your pet has a furry winter coat does not mean that he can stand all that the cold weather has to throw at him. A little extra thinking and care on your part can help save your pets, not only in their comfort level, but also perhaps their lives.
The cold temperatures can be extremely hard on some pets. Cats can easily freeze outside in frigid temperatures so allowing them to stay outdoors for short periods is best. Do not leave them outside all night, for instance, or for the whole day while you are at work. Perhaps even providing them with an outdoor, insulated cat house would help.
Remember that puppies cannot tolerate the cold as much as older dogs can. If you are trying to housebreak a puppy during the winter months, frequent (but shorter) trips outside should be adequate. And, if you have a dog house for your puppy for a little longer outside visits, be sure that it is not too large for him. Dog houses should reflect the size of the dog or puppy using it so that their own body heat can help to heat it up so that they don’t freeze.
For the winter time, you may also supplement you dog or cat with our Skin and Coat Supplement, which brings many benefits for the season. Your pet will get nutrients for the skin and the fur to help support the cold outside. Fish Oil, Vitamins, Minerals and Amino Acids in the product, are components that promote a healthy skin and coat, help minimize shedding, and help achieve a soft and shiny coat.
If your dog is sensitive to the cold (because he has shorter fur due to his breed type or is older) you may want to consider getting a doggie coat for him to wear. There are many styles of dog coats and sweaters on the market that will keep your dog warm on his outside excursions (and will also make him look incredibly cute!) And, if you are going to outfit your dog, don’t forget about his paws. You can also buy doggie boots that will help protect his feet from cold and ice slivers that can cut him. If you don’t want to buy doggie boots for your dog, be sure to dry your dog's feet (as well as his legs and stomach) after an outing in the snow.
Never leave your pet alone in a car during the winter months either. On an extremely cold day, your car can become like a freezer in no time.
During a snowstorm a dog can lose their sense of smell and easily become lost. It is best to keep your dog on a leash or in an enclosed area during a snowstorm to keep him within bounds.
It may also be a good idea to make sure your cat and dogs’ I.D. tags are up-to-date during the winter, so that if your pet does lose its way then he can be found more easily. You may also want to consider a microchip implant.
Don’t forget that coolant and antifreeze are poison to your pets, and they are lethal. Keep your coolant and antifreeze containers in a secure place where pets cannot get at them, and ensure that your car is not leaking these substances. Pets may sometimes lick the ice below your care and be poisoned by the antifreeze leaking out.
It is a wise idea in the wintertime to make a little noise on the hood of your car before starting it. Cats often like to sleep under car hoods because it is warmer there. Of course, keeping your cat indoors during sleeping hours can help prevent this scenario.
Remember the Paws, during the walks your dog may suffer from Ice, Snow and even the Salt applied to the streets to melt the ice, using a moisturizer Paw Cream is the best you can do to prevent dryness or cracking of the paw pads. Before walking your dog, apply the cream to shield your dog paws against the inclement weather. After returning from the walk, wash your dog paws with warm water and apply the cream again to moisturize and heal any discomfort. The same care must be taken with the nose. Our incredible Paw and Nose cream is the one-in-all solution you can get.
With a little extra care, your pets can be safe during the winter months. Remember that they are depending on you to keep them warm, safe and out of trouble. Using common sense and providing a little extra caution can help.