As we see continued cold weather its important to not forget your pets as they will also be feeling the cold even if they do have fur coats they will still be struggling. It’s good to take extra precautions and know where your local animal hospital is or an emergency vet.
Certain types of animal will fare a lot better in cold weather conditions however animals still need time to adapt to the new temperature the same as us. It makes sense that a husky from America isn’t going to be as resistant to the cold as a native hound from Alaska.
Normally I don’t encourage dressing-up of pets; I’m more of the “au naturel” way of thinking. However, extreme weather calls for appropriate measures, so I am not averse to a cosy jacket when called for.
Indoors treat your polar pooch to a proper preformed curled-up-doggy-shaped plastic box. Positioning is also very important, make sure it is in a warm place where there is no draught. Easier to clean than traditional baskets these boxes should be positioned well-away from doors as the slightest draught will turn your dog – who’s closer to the ground into a miserable bag of shivering bones.
Salt and other chemicals used to thaw roads and walkways can cause pads to crack and be sore. And, if ingested, these chemicals can be downright dangerous and you would need to take your pet to a vet referrals centre. Putting boots on your pet will solve the problem however most pets do not like their feet being covered so it can be tricky. A more realistic option it to wash your pets paws thoroughly every time they leave the house! A great tip to stop the build up of ice on the paws is to add some baby oil to the paws before you leave. A tip to stop the build up of ice on paws add baby oil before you leave as this reduces this dramatically.
