BLOG: Winter Safety For Pets
Brrr...with the chilly weather setting in, its time to wrap up warm and enjoy the winter months. OSCARS Helpline is here to offer some top winter tips to make winter time more enjoyable for everyone...
1. Keep your cats safe in doors during the icy colds months. Outdoors cats are known to seek shelter in less than safe places, like under a warm car.
2. Never let your dog off the lead on ice or snow, excitable and energetic dogs can easily injure themselves.
3. More dogs are lost during the dark winter months than at any other time in the year. By law all dogs should wear a dog identity tag when out of the house, so lost dogs can be easily reunited with their owners. B'seen night lights are a great way to keep track of your dog movements as well as a recall lead which can be coupled to your dog's collar.
4. In winter, dogs don't need such a rigorous grooming routine as in the summer months. Keeping a long coat will help your dog to keep warm and protected from the cold weather. If your dog is a short haired breed, introduce a dog coat on walks to keep them warm.
5. After walking your dog, thoroughly wipe them down. Its important to remove any snow or ice as well salt or harmful chemicals such as antifreeze that may be on your dog's coat.
6. Young puppies that haven't experienced cold winter weather, may be a little reluctant to take a step outside. Gently encourage your puppy outside with a fun game or treat as reward for good behaviour.
7. Older pets will need extra care on those chilly winter days. Cold and damp weather can aggravate arthritis, this can be helped by feeding a joint support diet or giving your pet a joint supplement.
8. Don't keep your pets in the car for long periods of time. In the winter cars don't retain heat like in the summer and can become chilly very quickly!
9. For dogs that spend long periods outdoors, a change to higher protein diet as well a as increased feeding rate will help to keep them in tip-top shape during the winter months.
10. At the end of a wintry day make sure your pet has a lovely warm bed to snuggle down in for the night. Be sure to move their bed away from cold floors and icy drafts.
For further advice please contact Oscar Pet Foods Pet Behaviour Counsellor; Shelley Aspden BSc (Hons) MSc on:
- 0800 195 8000
- helpline@oscars.co.uk.
- twitter.com/oscarstwelpline
- facebook.com/oscarpetfoods
- Full details of this FREE service can be found at www.oscars.co.uk.
Shelley is a provisonal member of the APBC (Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors)
Thank you to Paddy cared for by Jane Walton (Preston) for letting us use your picture
