Winter Pet Care Tips

During winter we need to take precautions to keep our pets warm and healthy. Dogs and cats, while they do have fur, are warm-blooded and not immune to temperature changes and may need extra care taken to stay warm. If you have outdoor pets, be extra careful to bring them in when it rains or snows. If you can't bring your pet in, then be sure they have a warm dry shelter. If your pet is smal and shorthaired, it's likely sensitive to the cold. The same goes for older animals and those that may be frail or ill. If your dog is shivering, it may need a sweater. Larger longhaired pets can usually tolerate colder weather for longer periods of time. Add bedding such as cedar shaving to their houses for warmth. If you take your pet out for walks in the pubbles or for a run in the snow, be sure to dry them with towels or a hair dryer. Pay attention to walking over ice and snow because the paws do get cold.

Animals get dry skin in the winter. This can be prevented or trated by reducing the amount of baths the animal is given, brushing their coat to remove dead hair and dander. When you do bathe them, use a moisturizing shampoo for pets (they have a different pH from humaans). Quality food improves nutrition and promotes shiny healthy fur. Treat your pet to warm water in the winter, and make sure the outdoor water bowls don't freeze. Try heating up a can of sour and mixing in dry dog food for a treat.

During the holidays, watch out for pets munching on decorations, gnawing on Christmas tree branches, biting electrical cords, and playing with tinsel decorations on the tree. Don't let your pet drink from the tree water, be careful they don't nibble on the poinsettia (poisonous), and make sure they don't run out when you or guests are coming and going. Always have a collar and identification on your pets. Christmas is the season when many pets are stolen, so take special precautions and do not leave your pets unattended.

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