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by Petplan Australia June 26, 2013

How To Keep Your Pets Warm This Winter?

Brr! The weather is cooling down out there and it won’t be long before you need to pull on yourwinter woollies, cook some soup and cuddle up next to the heater. But what about your furryfriends, how can you keep them warm and safe this winter?

Bedding

The most important part about your pet ’s bedding in winter, is to make sure that it is dry. Make surethat their bed hasn’t come in contact with rain or snow and isn’t damp in anyway. Secondly, you needto make sure that their bed is warm, perhaps warmer than usual. You can bump up the heat byadding an ext ra blanket . If your pet is part ial to being cold, you might want to make sure they arewarm by adding a heat ing pad or a hot water bot t le to their bed. Just make sure that your petdoesn’t burn their skin on an exposed heat ing pad or bot t le, by wrapping the heat ing pad up insuitable protect ion. During cold weather it is important to make sure that your pet ’s bedding is outof the way of draf t s and doorways. Because their beds are lower and out of the way, it is not usualfor people to not ice the draf t across the pet ’s space. Get down on a cold evening and make surethe air is warm and not open to a gasp of cold air.

Indoor Vs. Outdoor

If your cat or dog is normally an inside animal don’t t ry to change that in winter. Your pet will need toacclimat ise to the weather condit ions, and if they have not been outside as much as all, the coldweather can be quite a shock. If there is snow or ice, your dogs and cats would be bet ter of f inside.Even if you don’t normally allow them inside, it can be quite dangerous for animals in sub-zero

temperatures, part icularly if they are not breed for this climate. If your dog is breed for colderclimates and it must stay outside, make sure their bed is warm, dry and is under suitable shelter. Ifyou have a dog or cat with short , lit t le or no hair and you would like them to spend some t ime outsidein the cold weather (e.g. for exercise) you should get them some specialised clothing. Rememberthat not all pets like or will t olerate jackets or coats, so make sure you test it out a few t imes beforeleaving them alone in it for a long t ime.

Exercise

Your pet probably loves going outside and exploring the local park or walking t rack. During the coldermonths you might want to consider lessening the walks that you take together, or t ry to visit the parkduring the warmest t ime of the day. When you do take walks, you may want to consider put t ing yourpet in a coat and/or shoes. If your dog will wear (as in – not chew of f ) a pair of walking boots, youmight want to t ry taking your daily walks with a pair of these; because their lit t le tootsies won’t betouching the ground, they will be signif icant ly warmer.

For pampered pooches you might want to consider a visit to the doggy day care center. This willhelp provide a social out let for your pet . Doggy day care can be expensive and indoor parks are farand few between, however f inding an opt ion like this can mean that your dog can st ill get theexercise and companionship they crave during winter.

Vet Care

Make sure you speak to your veterinarian about what kind of diet your pet should be on in winter.Some pets will need some ext ra food in the colder months and other will need less to replicate thedrop in exercise. It ’s easy for your pet to put on weight over winter, as they won’t be exercising asof ten. So, as always, make sure that your pets are eat ing a well balanced diet .

If you dog or cat has arthrit is you will need to be very careful that they are not lef t out in the cold fortoo long, as this will increase their pain levels. Speak to your vet about exercise and special t ips foryour pet in winter. You may need to up their pain medicat ion in the coldest weeks. Make sure that youkeep up with regular vet visit s and health checks. Winter, like it is for people, is a common t ime for“cold and f lu season”.

The most important part about keeping your pet warm this winter is to follow your own instincts. Ifyou are cold and wanting to be indoors, most likely so will your pet. If you need some extraflannelette of a night-time, so might they. Don’t ever think just because they have fur they will bewarm enough, while some animals are ‘made’ for the cold, many are not and many need some extrawinter cuddles!