When temperatures go down, we bundle up. But your pets need protection, too! People often forget that the extreme cold can affect your animals just as much as extreme heat.
The American Veterinarian Medical Association (AVMA) warns that the cold can pose serious health risks to your pets. Animals can get frostbite and hypothermia just as easily as humans!
Here are some tips and tricks to keep your pet warm and healthy as they face the cold this season.
Wagging away from Long Walks: When the temperature begins to drop, consider dropping a few minutes off your daily walks. Like humans, animals are sensitive to the cold air.
Rinse, Lather, and Repeat: After taking your pet for a walk, rinse off their paws and fur to get rid of accumulated anti-freeze or chemicals placed on the roads.
Visit Doctor Doolittle: The winter season is a great time to take your pet to the doctor to ensure they are strong and healthy enough to face the cold. It will also help pets that have already been affected by the drop in temperature.
Food For Thought: Increasing your pets’ weight is not always the best way to keep your pet warm and healthy during the winter. Try to keep your pet at a normal weight, but pets that live outdoors may require more calories to regulate body heat.
Protect their Paws with Padded Booties: Imagine walking outdoors barefoot in what feels like sub-0 weather. Not great, right? Your pet doesn’t think so either. Now, pets can walk outdoors comfortably with booties, which provide a nice warm layer between pets’ paws and the snow and ice.