If you’re a dog owner, you already know how much some dogs love snow and cannot get enough of chasing snowballs (that mysteriously disappear). However, although there’s plenty of fun to be had during winter, you also need to be careful and ensure you protect your pets. If you feel like it’s too cold, they likely do, too. So consider these tips to protect your pets over the winter.
Keep Them Indoors As Much As Possible
If you have cats, keeping them inside isn’t much of a problem. However, dogs need much more exercise otherwise they will get restless and might act out. The problem lies in it being too cold to take them out. So if you are going to take them for walks, it’s best to limit this as much as possible. Instead of going on long walks, walk around the neighborhood or drive them to the local dog park so you can get back home quickly if the cold gets too much.
Watch Out for Slippery Surfaces
Ice can be a huge issue for everyone during winter, but this is especially true for dogs and horses who don’t recognize that ice can be dangerous. Slipping on ice means you’ll need to learn how to treat pain in your dog, while horses could suffer serious injuries if they slip on ice hidden under snow. When outside, keep your dog on a close leash to ensure they don’t wander off and slip on the ice.
Protect Their Coat and Keep Them Warm
If you need to spend extended time outside, you can protect your pet’s coat to keep them toasty. You can purchase winter coats for dogs. If you want to ensure they achieve peak fashion, add some warm booties to protect their feet when they’re walking on snowy ground.
Put Together An Emergency Kit
Everyone wants a white Christmas, but they don’t want to get snowed in or experience a blackout. It’s about finding the right balance, even if it’s not up to you. If you live where a blackout is likely, put together a power outage survival kit with enough for everyone (your pets included). This includes bottled water and warm blankets. It may also be worth stocking up on extra food in case you can’t get to the pet food store for a few days.
Keep Them Close
While it’s a good idea to keep an eye on how warm your pets are, some pets will still appreciate some exercise. This especially applies to dogs. Short, regular walks are a good idea as they make sure that you and your dogs alike get enough exercise, without getting too cold outside. Of course, you will also have to consider your dog’s breed. A husky will fare much better in winter than a chihuahua, for example.
If you let your dog off the lead or let them into an unfenced yard, you might want to explore ways to keep your dog nearby and safe, as they might get excited and run off. Wireless fences are a great option, because they allow you to track your dog and encourage them to stay within a certain area, so they don’t get too far when you’re out and about.
Of course, there are several different types of wireless fences out there, so it pays to explore your options. For example, do some research into Spoton vs Halo invisible dog fence and figure out which features work best for you.
A Winter Wonderland
It’s cold outside, and your pets will feel the chill as much as you do, if not more. While you don’t need to keep them cooped up until the first daisies sprout in spring, you can be cautious when outside to ensure they don’t get too cold, which could make them ill or even cause serious health issues.
