10 Ways to Keep Your Pet Warm This Winter
Keeping Your Pet Safe During Cold Weather
As temperatures plummet during the winter, it is more important than ever to keep your pet safe from the elements. Despite their furry exterior, just like us humans, our pets can really feel the cold so it’s important that we protect them during cold, frosty and snowy weather.
Luckily, there are a few ways to help ensure your pet is kept nice and warm in cold weather, and we’ve compiled our top ten tips below on beating the frost this winter!
1. Keep Them Indoors
Move your pet indoors full-time. Ideally into your house, but if this isn’t possible, move their kennel or hutch into a shed to help ensure they are kept safe from the cold temperatures.
2. Dry Bedding
Keep beds warm and dry. Choose waterproof bedding and make sure outdoor kennels, hutches and homes are warm and dry. You can also use extra bedding for insulation, such as straw and hay in their sleeping areas. A good blanket is also a perfect way to make sure your pet stays warm.
3. Combine Warmth with Style
Merge fashion and function and wrap up your canine friends with dog coats for extra warmth. Our range of not only stylish but cosy dog wearables like SOTNOS Fur Trim Parka and Joules Coastal Dog Jumper will help ensure your pup is shielded from any frost the cold weather throws at him.
4. Fresh Water & Food
Make sure your pet had plenty of fresh water and food – a little extra food than normally might be needed as he will be burning energy to stay warm. Don’t forget about your garden birds too, who would appreciate some high fat foods like peanuts to boost their energy reserves.
5. Beat The Freeze
Keep an eye to ensure that water supplies do not freeze over. If your pet is feeding outside, use plastic bowls instead of metal to prevent their tongues getting stuck if it is too cold.
6. Regular Health Checks
Similarly to humans your dog or cat can get frostbite! Pay extra attention to any signs of discolouration, pain or unusual blisters on their ears and paws.
7. Protect Their Skin
Like us humans in colder-climates pets need clean and moisturised paw pads to prevent cracking and pain caused by hard, cold salted pavements. Use Omega oils to prevent skin becoming dry and itchy in changing temperatures.
8. Grooming
Book a dog grooming session. Prevent matting, hydrate the skin and condition your dog’s coat or treat arthritic joints with a muscle and joint therapy bath.
Make sure you are brushing your dog’s coat regularly, as dog’s hair tends to grow longer in the winter. The same goes for cats-make sure they are brushed frequently, especially if they have a thick coat which could get easily matted.
9. Frequent Exercise
No matter what the weather is, your pet needs daily exercise. Moving around and staying physical will help keep your pet both warm and healthy. Always make sure to bring your dog out for a walk everyday, and ensure he is mentally stimulated too with lots of toys and games such as fetch. For cats, keep plenty of toys around for them to play with, and a cat tower or two will go a long way to your cat’s wellbeing.
10. Stay Away From Drafts
To ensure your pet gets maximum warmth, make sure his crate, hutch or cage is completely draft-free. Position their enclosure away from any windows or doors/ If outside, check that the hutch is completely 100% waterproof, and all wooden panels are dry and showing no signs of mould.
