The Smartest Way To Nurture Your Dogs And Cats During Winter Months
When the cold weather really kicks in, we all worry that our outdoor pets will be okay. There are a few things you can do to make sure they make it through the winter happy and healthy. A heated bowl which is controlled by a thermostat will ensure that your dog’s water never freezes.
Floors in dog houses get very cold in winter, yet many of us never think that our poor dog has to lie on that cold floor. They haven’t got slippers to keep their paws warm, so we have to help them. If you can, have your kennel raised off the ground on stilts. If you can’t do this, put an elevate bed in so they don’t have to sleep on the floor.
There is a certain snobbery exists in pet owners who look down on dressing up their dogs. Winter weather blows this snobbery out of the water and we all know that the clothes such as sweaters and coats are essential for keeping our pets warm.
There are 5 sizes of dogs clothes, so the chances are there will be a size to fit your pet. The ones today can go through you washing machine just like our clothes.
So the winter clothing will keep them warm, but health supplements are recommended to keep their joints oiled, so to speak. All houses suffer from drafts, and as your dog is on the ground they will be affected more by them than we would. A lighter, house sweater will protect your pet. You can also get goggles to keep snow, grit etc out of their eyes when they go for walks.
Dogs aren’t the only pets we need to think about during the winter. Dogs have quite a high proportion of body fat so stay warmer in colder temperatures, cat do not. Treat your puss to a padded or fur lines cat bed that they can go into to sleep.
We all know that carpets warm up floors, but more and more of us are rejecting carpets in favour or wooden or laminate floors, which are incredibly cold in the winter. So that your pet isn’t uncomfortable lying on the floor, get them a heated mat designed for pets, or even a rug. This also stops them from jumping onto your soft furnishings for comfort.
The worst thing that you can possibly do is leave your pet outside so that it’s exposed to the elements. Frostbite is nasty at any time, but can be extremely painful for dogs. It’s attacks their tail, feet and ears so make sure they have good shelter.
If you own cats, see how a Staywell magnetic cat door or Petsafe cat door can be a terrific addition as well.