Winterizing Your Pet
How to Keep Your Pet Safe and Warm in the Winter Cold
Baby It’s Cold Outside – Protect Your Pets!
Jack Frost is definitely going to be nipping at our snouts and paws at some point this winter and the weather might be extremely frigid outside soon (sorry – blame Mother Nature)! Pet parents need to bundle up and take pet precautions – dogs and cats should be ready to weather the weather! Protect your four-legged loved ones from dangerous conditions and all the hazards that the winter cold unleashes.
Animal Fair Media is providing the following ten tips and products to help keep your pet happy and safe all winter long – stay warm!
1. During extreme weather conditions, pets love curling up next to anything warm. Heaters and furnaces can become scorching winter hazards! Keep an eye on paws or tails near coils, flames, or hot areas. Cats might curl up by your car engine. Make sure to check beneath your car or make lots of noise before turning it on. Dyson Hot Air Heater has the very first pet-friendly heater protecting your pets (or children) from getting burned.
2. There are so many ways to keep your pet warm this winter, If you’re a pet parent to a short-haired breed dogs, consider getting them coats or sweaters. Many designers including Sherpa, Juicy Couture, Trixie + Peanuts, and Land’s End Fleece Dog Jacket are creating fabulous dog coats that pet parents can choose from, including which comes in 4 colors ranging in size from XS to XL.
3. Older pets or pets with health conditions need extra care this time of year. The cold can leave their joints stiff or tender, and they might move slower or more awkwardly. They need a soft, warm bed and keep a closer eye on them when they’re outside or playing. Petco’s Orthopedic Memory Foam Bed conforms to your pet and responds to heat and pressure. Especially when it’s cold outside your dog can retreat to a comfortable cozy bed to chill out.
4. Even in the most extreme weather, your dog has to go outside. Pets can get ice, salt, and chemicals melted to their paws. Wipe your pet’s paw with a warm wet towel, when they come in to avoid chaffing or getting raw, and to prevent your pup from licking the salt off his paws. You can buy a pair of pup booties! But if the shoe doesn’t fit, don’t force them because not all dogs like booties. For your own drive and pets sake consider Morton® Safe-T-Pet™, developed with veterinarians, it is a salt free and chloride free ice melter which melts below -15 degrees Fahrenheit. The urea-based, organic formula is non-toxic and non-irritating to pet’s paws and stomachs. Good old Vaseline is also a great way to protect your pet’s paw pads before and after a winter walk.
5. While your pets are outside, they still need to re-hydrate even if summer is long gone. Watch your pets’ water dish to make sure it didn’t freeze and make sure they have a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from cold drafts. Make the investment in a heated bowl or a bowl that has a heating element for dogs that are outside.
6. Pets often get ice, salt, and chemicals melted to their paws. Wipe your pet’s paws when they get back to avoid chaffing or getting raw, and to prevent your pup from licking the salt off his paws. You can buy a pair of pup booties – but remember not all dogs like booties or shoes on their paws, and might bark with resistance, or take off the booties when your not looking! In that case keep an eye on your pup’s paws will walking, to make sure the cold ice isn’t causing discomfort or harm.
7. It’s warmer indoors and all pets need to be inside in the frigid temperatures. Do not leave your pet outside for extended periods of time, even in a doghouse. When the temperature drops, your pets can freeze to death. That goes for your car as well, a car interior can get as cold as a refrigerator, and pets can easily freeze.
8. While pets are keeping warm with their winter coats, pet parents will be using heaters. Be careful though, these heaters can be dangerous to your pets! During extreme weather conditions, pets love curling up next to anything warm. Heaters and furnaces can become scorching winter hazards! Keep an eye on paws or tails near coils, flames, or hot areas. Cats might curl up by your car engine. Make sure to check beneath your car or make lots of noise before turning it on.
9. Your everyday household chemicals used in the winter can be fatal to animals – antifreeze and rock salt are poisonous to your pets. Keep these and other harmful chemicals out of your pet’s reach or path and always ask wherever you buy these products if they carry eco- and pet-friendly products.
10. One last thing to keep in mind this winter season is that older pets or pets with health conditions need extra care this time of year. The cold can leave their joints stiff or tender, and they might move slower or more awkwardly. Make sure your pet has a soft, warm bed and keep a closer eye on them when they’re outside or playing. Now you can go out and enjoy what winter has to offer for pets and pet parents!
Please remember your local animal shelter is always interested in your old blankets or anything to help the many animals in need of adoption to stay warm – please consider donations!
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