PET CARE Winter tips for pet owners

Winter tips for pet owners


Ask the vet
Esther van Luipen

Oooh! It’s cold outside! Winter came early this year. If you’re outside you probably want to get indoors as quick as possible, put on pyjamas and settle yourself near the fire with a nice cup of hot chocolate. But what about your pets? Each year the cold takes its toll by killing animals especially the young, old and sick. Extra care needs to be paid to our furry friends during these months!
If your pets are normally outdoors, ideally you should let them in during these Siberian days and nights. If you can’t bring your dog or cat in you need to still ensure they are warm. Here are a few tips to keep your pet warm in the cold weather.

• Proper housing is key. A dog house should have insulation and even maybe a heater. Heat Lamps and Heat Pads are available at some vets and pet stores and compliment good bedding. Heated pads are also an excellent way to keep an arthritic dog comfortable. An alternative is a hot-water bottle wrapped in some towels to insulate it, giving a few hours of heat.
• An animal shouldn’t sleep on a bare floor, especially cold concrete but instead should be at least three inches off it by putting down a piece of wood or cardboard (an excellent cheap option) followed by soft bedding of cushions, blankets or straw. All bedding should be dry.
• Ensure your pet is kept out of any draughts, as wind chill can be very uncomfortable.
• Provide more food. Like people, animals use up more calories in the winter trying to stay warm – especially if outdoors. Unlike people, however, regular dog food (as opposed to selection boxes or turkey and ham) will nicely fill them up! A little more in the bowl will make all the difference to your pet. Make sure that their water bowl doesn’t freeze over.
• Finally, be careful out walking your pet when it’s icy. Like us, slips, slides and falls can easily happen, resulting in grazes, cuts or even broken bones. It has to be said though, animals are usually a lot more graceful on ice then us humans!

Esther van Luipen is a veterinary surgeon in Claremorris Small Animal Practice. Feel free to contact her with any of your small-animal concerns on 094 9373955 or at living@mayonews.ie.