Winter is a difficult time for us as well as our four-legged family members. While we can easily protect ourselves from the cold by popping on a jumper or snuggling up to a fire, our pets need a helping hand to remain warm in the biting cold. In this article, we’ve come up with some easy ways to keep our pets cozy and warm during winter.
- Offer Warm Clothing
Besides making them look super cute, clothing keeps them warm and protected during the harsh winter months. Pets that have short or no hair are more likely to get cold so dressing them up is a must in the chilly weather. Nowadays, there is a wide range of coats and jackets available for pets so we can experiment with different apparel. Whatever piece of clothing we’re choosing, we’ve to make sure that our pet has enough space to breathe and doesn’t feature dangling buttons that they can swallow easily.
- Provide Insulated Shelter and Heated Bedding
If our dog or cat is primarily an outdoor pet, keeping them at home is not an easy task. To protect such a pet during the winter, we can purchase or make an insulated shelter in the form of a kennel or an enclosed area. The shelters should have a sloped roof, an elevated floor, insulated walls and a weather flap in the front. The door of the shelter should be pointed away from the wind. We can also consider including warm, soft bedding such as blankets, cushions or microwavable heat pillows.
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- Include Winter Grooming Routine
The primary source of warmth for pets is their coat. While we may feel that letting their coat grow will keep them cozy, grooming them even in winter is important. Regular grooming will keep them comfortable, avoid skin problems and reduce shedding. Grooming them also makes it easy for us to bathe them when they get exposed to dirt and mud. While giving them a bath, we should make sure to do it indoors with warm water and dry them with a warm towel.
- Be Watchful of Heat-Seeking Behavior
The most common sign that shows our pets feel cold is shivering or trembling. When they feel cold, you may see them cuddle in warm places like lounges, and beds or trying to get close to heaters. During colder weather, they will mostly stick to warm floors and carpets and avoid sitting on tiles. Making them feel cozy is extremely important when we see them displaying such behavior.
- Keep an Eye on their Food Intake
Pets tend to get hungrier during the colder months as they need more energy to remain warm. The calorie requirement of an animal also depends on their weight and coat type. Dogs and cats that have thin or hairless coats and low body fat need more calories to maintain their body heat. Similarly, animals with thick coats and higher body density may need fewer calories. It is best to check with your vet on how much you can feed your pet during winter.
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- Do not Offer them Cold Water or Food
Water and food that have been left unattended can get cold fast in winter. To keep our pets warm and healthy, we need to make sure to serve them warm water and food. We shouldn’t offer them water and food that is cold or that is kept at room temperature.
- Make them Exercise
Neither we nor our pets like to exercise in the holiday season. Still, we have to keep them moving to maintain their health. Exercise including running, playing and jumping will help to keep them active, healthy and warm during the chilly winter days.
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Concluding Note
When temperatures begin to decrease, keeping our beloved pets warm can be challenging, but it is an essential aspect of being a caring pet parent. If you follow the tips that we’ve mentioned in this article, we’re sure that your pets will be happy, healthy and warm this winter.
As pet lovers, you can also remain watchful of abandoned pets during this cold season. Get in touch with relevant authorities if you find animals unattended and suffering outdoors in the chilly weather.