Winter tips for your pets

Are you feeling the chill in the air? 🥶 We bet your pet is feeling it too! Here are some quick tips to make sure your pet is comfy and able to handle the winter chills:

Keep them warm and cosy

Make sure your pet has a warm place to sleep, especially during chilly winter nights. Keep them indoors as much as possible, and ensure that you change their water regularly to keep their water bowl warm. You can consider using plastic food bowls as metal can stick to your pet’s tongue if it is extremely cold in your house. 

Stick to an exercise routine 

Spending a lot of time snuggled up indoors can lead to a whole lot of lazing around (for pets and humans alike!). Ensure you’re spending enough time playing with your pet and keeping them on the move with some tricks and training.

Take special care for pets with arthritis 

Just like people, colder weather can make older joints ache. Pets with arthritis can experience increased discomfort, particularly during this time. If you notice your pet being slower to rise in the mornings, stiff after a nap or a little less likely to jump up, it might be time to visit your vet to ask about how to keep their older joints more comfortable. Make sure your pet is getting enough exercise as it encourages circulation and extra weight can worsen their joint ache.  

Zara wears a coat from PetRescue x Gorman 2019 Limited Edition collection.

Get them a coat 

Although most pets, particularly cats and dogs, have a natural warm coat to protect them from the cold, you can always invest in a good winter coat for pets with a thin coat, or senior pets who need more care during winter months. 

Invest in a heat pad for small pets

Small pets such as guinea pigs and rabbits need more attention and care during colder months. You can make their hutch cosy with warm blankets or hay, or buy an animal heat pad that can be easily microwaved. However, make sure the heat pad is only at one end of their enclosure and not across the whole length so they can get off and away from the heat.

Be careful around fireplaces 

Fireplaces are a great way to keep the house feeling cosy, but keep a watchful eye on your furry friends around them. Get a fireplace screen or glass door as an extra level of protection, or even a pet gate to stop your pet from going into the room entirely. 
Train your pet to keep away from the fireplace, and supervise at all times around the fire as well. Ensure house guests are aware that your pet isn't allowed near the fireplace. 

Keep up their grooming regime

In many ways, it’s more important than ever in winter to keep up your pet’s grooming regime, as pooches with wet, long, matted hair are more prone to infections. Ensure you completely dry off your furry friend when they get wet, and regularly brush their coat to prevent skin and health problems. Bathing your doggo using a gentle moisturising shampoo and conditioner will also help to soothe dry winter skin. Lastly, if your furry friend isn’t being walked as much in the colder months, treat them to a pedicure and trim their nails as they won’t be filed down naturally. 

Adjust their food intake

If your pooch isn’t getting as much exercise as usual in the cooler months, it’s important that their food intake is reduced to avoid putting on the winter weight and affecting their metabolism. This also applies to feline friends, who may be snuggled up inside instead of getting out and about.