We just had our first snowfall of the season a few days ago. It snowed again last night. In fact, it snowed so much that school had a two hour delay this morning.
When it first snowed it happened on a Saturday. That was OK with us. We just stayed home, caught up on some cleaning and spent the rest of the day watching holiday movies and shows.
At one point I commented on not having to go out in the snow now that we no longer have our beloved dog Espn (pronounced Es-pin). He passed away back in March. Had we still had him in our lives we would have made several trips outside in the cold, snowy weather to walk him.
We miss Espn terribly, but we don’t missed having to go out in the freezing cold if we don’t have to.
Our cats will venture out in the snow from time to time. We live on the top floor and our cats are indoor cats. They do enjoy hanging out on the balcony, which does get snow (sometimes a few feet of it). Our cats like to go out in the snow and lick it. They also like to try and catch snowflakes.
When we (human beings) go out in the cold weather we always makes sure to take precautions to avoid getting too cold, or even frost bite. When it comes to your pets, what precautions do you take to ensure their safety and well being?
When it comes to our pets we would make sure to not keep Espn outside for too long. We also checked his feet for rock salt (and removed any that we saw) and towel dried him. We don’t like coming inside all wet, so why would our dog?
We tried coats and booties but he would take them off and would run from us when we came out him with them. So we just gave up on that. Other dogs we know are perfectly happy to wear booties and sweaters.
As for our cats, if it’s too cold outside we simply don’t let them go out.
The pet food brand, Petcurean, offers some great tips on how to protect your pet this winter (and beyond).
Use a humidifier
Cooler weather usually brings dry air, so using a humidifier will help to keep the noses and throats of our dogs and cats from drying out. It’s the same for their coat and skin.
I wold have never thought to use a humidifier for our pets. I am going to look into this for our cats. We use air purifiers for our pets (our cat Bella has severe asthma), but I never thought about a humidifier.
Use pet-friendly snow melters
Choose pet-friendly ice and snow melters that won’t irritate paws or stomachs, especially if your dog or cat licks its paws after being outside.
Yes! Please look into pet friendly snow melters. Rock salt burns their paws. Not only that it’s unhealthy for them to ingest. That is why it’s important to check their paws the moment they are back inside and remove any rock salt that you see right away.
Show them extra love with Tasty Treats
The holidays are all about showing love and appreciation so give your cat or dog some extra belly rubs and treats to make up for the chilly weather and any cold shoulders you may receive due to holiday travel. Petcurean’s SPIKE treats for dogs are great because their packed with superfoods like Chia Seeds, Pomegranate and Kale, plus they’re portable. For Cats, try Petcurean’s new NOW FRESH Stews and Pates, you can feed these as a complete meal, but they’re also perfect as a topper or served as an extra treat. Added bonus – they’re made with 100% human grade, fresh ingredients including turkey bone broth, sweet potatoes, peas and carrots, and feature zero grains, gluten, wheat, beef, corn or soy.
Our cats LOVE the NOW FRESH Stews and Pates. You can read my review here.
Paw protection
Protect your dog’s paws with a wax product designed for this purpose that forms a dense, breathable bond, which helps prevent snow buildup during outdoor exercise. After walks, wipe away any snow or ice from your dog’s feet, legs and belly.
For extended periods outside, you can purchase boots for your pup’s paws. The first time you put them on your dog, there may be a comical reaction. Some dogs decide they simply can’t move with those things on their feet. Others walk around lifting their feet up exceptionally high like a prancing pony. But don’t worry, it doesn’t take long to get used to the boots! Distract your dog with treats or a fun activity while he is wearing his boots and soon he will forget all about them. You could also try putting socks on your dog before you introduce the booties so he feels comfortable with something on his feet. Make sure the boots don’t fit too tightly so as to cut off the circulation and invite frostbite.
I wish Espn would have let us use booties and sweaters on him. Because he fought us on that we tried not to have him shaved (like he is in the photo below) during the winter.We kept his long, messy hair to provide him with added protection from the cold and elements.
Be safe and alert when walking at night
Poor weather and decreased daylight may cause limited visibility for drivers at night, so take extra precautions when walking your pets and make sure you use a leash. Nowadays there are all kinds of reflective aids to help drivers see you in the dark. Reflective collars, leashes, harnesses and vests for both you and your dog are great ways to stay visible.
Thankfully we live in a condo complex so that we don’t have to deal with main street traffic. We have ample lighting in the parking lot area. Still, it’s never a bad idea to be cautious.
Coat or no coat?
If you live in a particularly frigid zone, you may want to consider a jacket for an extra layer of warmth for your pup while outside. Cats generally don’t fare well in jackets but dogs who don’t have a ‘double coat’ may benefit from wearing a jacket while outside for their walks. There is a huge variety available, from a simple sweater to a full-blown waterproof jacket with hood. However, do reserve the wearing of such warm apparel only for when you are outside.
I wish Espn would have worn a sweater or coat. As I mentioned above, we’d make sure not to shave him when we got him groomed (if possible) during the colder months. His extra fur helped protect him from the elements.
Provide shelter
Some pets spend a lot of time outside, either by their own choice or by necessity. I used to have a border collie whom I would find outside in the worst weather, soaking wet or covered in snow, despite the fact he had several warm cozy places to choose from! His preference was to always be outside, regardless of the weather. No matter what the reason, a warm, dry, cozy shelter is a must for dogs who are outside on their own in frigid temperatures, rain or snow.
Place the shelter out of the wind, under shelter if possible, and up off the ground. Provide some type of bedding; old blankets or even a deep layer of straw will help insulate. It is key to check the bedding in the shelter daily. Wet bedding will only make your pet colder. Fresh water is also necessary and if the water freezes where you live, inexpensive water bowl heaters are available.
It kills me to see dogs tied up outside year round. They need shelter! Personally I don’t know why people have dogs if they are going to be kept outside 24/7. We used to tie one of our dogs up outside when I was growing up, but that was only because he was known to wander off. He’d come back inside whenever he wanted to, or when it got dark or the weather was no good.
Keep them inside
Lastly, if it is cold enough outside that YOU don’t want to be out in it, you should assume the same for your pet, especially the very old, the very young, or the sick. Keep them inside with you.
It doesn’t take much to prep your pets for cooler weather. But thinking a little ahead and getting ready for Old Man Winter in good time will ensure you don’t get ‘caught out in the cold’, and neither will your pet!
If you would like to learn more about Petcurean, or to check out their variety of dog and cat foods, please visit Petcurean.com. The brand is also available on social media. All of their links are found on their website.
Look for Petcurean foods at a pet store near you. There is a also a store locator on their website for your convenience.
Do you have any additional tips you’d like to share on keeping your pet healthy during the cold, winter months? Feel free to tell me about them in the comments section of this post.
Kimberly
*I have partnered with Petcurean to bring you this information. Although compensated the opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.