Winter arrival can be bliss for
us to spend most of the time indoors with a cozy blanket. But it can turn up to
be a rude awakening for your pets if they spend most of their time playing in
the backyard. Sure, pets have a thick coat of the fur to protect them from the
cold, but when it comes to spending time outdoors in the freezing weather, even
their dense coat has a hard time regulating their body temperatures. Cold
weather possesses certain threats, and therefore, our pets require a little
extra care and some cuddles too. So, here are some winter safety tips for our
four-legged friends that can help them have a happy winter.
Keep the Pet Warm
Well, your pet’s beautiful
plush coat isn’t perfect enough to handle the extremely cold weather
conditions. There are many breeds of dogs and cats blessed with thick fur, but
even they require protection from extreme temperatures. Your pet’s fur isn’t
flawless, so when they come indoors from the cold weather conditions, ensure to
dry them with a towel. Provide your pet an extra blanket and keep their bedding
cozy. Moreover, you can add pet clothes as a protective shield. It is just that
you require paying heed to the dressed-up pet.
Check the Paws
How
painful and unpleasant it is to see those foot cracks in winters. Similarly,
even pets can suffer from cracked pads. Low humidity, salted roads, and
freezing temperatures can cause cracked and dry pads. To soothe your pet’s
paws, you can use Frontline Pet Care Paw Balm and rub its small amount on your
pet’s paws to avoid additional irritation. The anti-bacterial properties of
this balm make a protective barrier on the skin, and thus, protect pets from
the snow, salt, and other irritants.
Prevent Frostbites in Pets
Playing
in the snow can be fun for your pets until they get frostbites. When exposed to
extreme cold temperatures, cats and dogs end up catching frostbites. Frostbites
aren’t painful initially, but as soon as your pet comes into the warm
environment, they may feel extreme pain in the affected areas. Therefore, you
need to monitor how long your cat stays outside and ensure to clean their paws,
ears, and tail areas when they are indoors.
Keep Your Pet Active
The cold weather and short days
make you and your pet feel lazy. Just like you, even your pets find it
fascinating to have big meals and sleep the whole day. But, it can have adverse
effects on their health as they are prone to gain weight, especially in
winters. So, you can utilize this time by playing indoor games with your pet.
You can use puzzle feeders or consider conducting an indoor workout session
with your pet or indulge in activities that will keep him active.
Collar and Chip
It
is always about being prepared to face the worst condition with its solution
planned prior. Therefore, preparing for the worst is always the best. Pets are
most likely to get lost in winter. Hence, ensure to make your pet wear a breakaway
collar with an identification tag that has your current information in it. Have
your pet microchipped, and don’t forget to check whether your pet’s microchip
information is up-to-date or not. You can also tie a collar with identification
details on your pet’s neck, but microchipping your pet is always recommended
more than a collar as it can never fall off.
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