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.

We all dislike to think that we have bugs feeding and living off us. Mosquitoes are awful enough, but fleas, ticks and lice are even worse. They do not simply come over for dinner, they actually move in. Dogs and cats are normally to blame for bringing fleas into our homes, but ticks and lice we can bring ourselves too.

If you suspect an infestation or an immanent infestation of fleas or other bugs in your home, you ought to do something about it right away. The first thing to do is tie the dog up in the yard and clean up the house. Put your bedding and any loose covers, like cushion or chair covers, on a boil wash. Then get out the vacuum cleaner, put a large shake of flea powder into the bag and vacuum the whole house – even the chairs and the curtains.

Then take a large can of insecticide containing 0.5% permethrin and spray every fabric that you can see. This will kill all bugs and will keep your house bug free for about six months. Think twice if you have fish or cats as permethrin will kill them too, although it is completely safe for humans and dogs.

So, now you can turn your attention to Fido. Fleas are by far the most common problem, but some areas where there are deer, may have a lot of ticks as well. If you dog has ticks, make sure that you cut your grass short. Ticks prefer long grass.

Fleas and ticks often produce an allergic reaction in dogs which drives them mad. They bite and scratch themselves until their hair falls out and their skin bleeds.

If you dog has a condition like this, you should wash him with a medicated shampoo, dust him with flea powder, put a flea collar on him and put a little oil on his sore skin. If he still will not leave it alone, you may have to get him a ruff for a few days until his skin heals over. For maintenance, a regular bath and a dusting should be sufficient.

Worms are another horrible thought. Imagine having worms living inside you. I know that we do all have parasites within us, but they are supposed to be there. I am talking about the ones that are not supposed to be in there like: tape worms, round worms, hook worms and whip worms. A bad hook infection can even make your dog anaemic.

Hook worm larvae can pass through the skin, so when you are bathing or brushing him, be on the look out for what looks like small cuts. Often the dogs stools will be runny and tinged with blood. These are dangerous pests and have to be treated immediately.

The other worms are less dangerous and all puppies have round worms. Round worms and bits of dead tape worm in the stools are a sign of infection. A pot belly in a puppy is also a call to action. Worms are not difficult to treat and you should worm your dog every six months with a tablet. Not all of these worming tablets are suitable for puppies though.

Owen Jones, the writer of this article writes on quite a few subjects, but is currently concerned with natural tick repellent. If you would like to know more or check out some great offers, please go to our website at tick Repellent For Dogs.

The requirement of healthy food appears to apply equally to humans and their pets, since a lot of pet owners prefer to buy organic products to feed their four-legged friends. One could be forgiven for being taken aback by the vast variety of organic dog food available in the market. Just like for humans, there are a lot of pet illnesses that one could cure or even prevent in the first place by the use of organic pet food.

For instance, organic dog food could lessen the risk of the dog getting skin diseases and allergies. The explanation for the positive health impact is the absence of additives, chemicals, colourants and pesticides. Instead the ingredients of organic dog food are just grain extracts and high quality proteins.

Normal dog food can cause diabetes and excess weight with all the other problems that accompany these illnesses: back ailment, organ failure and decreased mobility. How can organic dog food help here, then? Well, because organic pet food does not contain bulk filler; they are nutrient-packed products that create energy not fat. Moreover, it is far better and definitely a lot easier to prevent health issues than try to cure them later.

A better digestion and a stronger immunity system are the other main benefits that accompany the use of organic pet food. Because of the lack of chemicals usually present in ordinary pet food, your dog will no longer be sick or experience gas or diarrhea. A healthier metabolism is what you will achieve with a healthy diet. Moreover, the quality of the nutritional substances in organic dog food, boosts the immunity functions, thereby reducing the risks of infection and all sorts of specific diseases that affect dogs on a routine basis.

A significant number of veterinarians claim that organic dog food substantially extends the life of any animal, not to mention the fact that it will go through old age a lot better. It is quite common that pet owners who choose organic dog food, are also interested in eating organic foods themselves, sticking by healthy natural food that enhance bodily functions and reduce toxins and disease.

Ask your dog food provider about organic dog food and if there is none available at your local shop, try to order it online. There are many web sites that offer such products at fairly decent prices.

One last piece, be very, very careful with dried dog food like biscuits, no matter what it says on the packet. I used to have a dog called Becky that stayed at home alone during the day, while I went to the office. I didn’t like to leave tinned food, because of flies, bacteria and vermin, so I bought dry food, which would not go off during the day. However, within six years she had contracted diabetes, which meant that I had to inject her with insulin every morning. The veterinary said that it was very common for dogs fed only on dry biscuits to contract diabetes, so check with your vet first of all or feed organic tinned food.

If you liked reading this article on organic dog food and you want to read more about dogs in general or dog training, please go to our our website at Dog Training