Winter does come with much challenge for our furry friends. The falling temperatures do bedeck the ground with snow and ice, and with a biting wind against your pet’s paws and skin, it is discomforting and might be the harbinger of a health condition. Proper winter care for pets goes far in making sure they are safe, warm, and comfortable during this season. The helpful tips outlined below will assist you in safeguarding your pet’s paws and skin from the cold so they may stay healthy and joyful during these winter months.
Understanding the Dangers of Cold Weather to Pets
Winter is usually harsh and far from friendly to our pets, especially those who used to spend a lot of time outdoors. The cold air, snow, and ice are usually responsible for the following problems:
Dry Cracked Paws: The cold has a tendency to dry the pads of your pet’s paw, which cracks and becomes sores that are painful and may easily become infected.
Frostbite: Long exposure to cold can cause frostbite, especially around the ears, tail, and paws.
Dry, Itchy Skin: Winter’s low humidity may dry your pet’s skin. With this dryness, the skin will itch, flake, and just be uncomfortable.
Burns: Salts or other chemicals used to de-ice roads and walks can be very irritating to your pet’s paws and skin, sometimes even causing burns or allergic reactions.
Winter Care for Your Pet’s Paws
The most vulnerable parts of the body to cold weather conditions are a pet’s paws. This is because the paws come into direct contact with surfaces, ice, and probably dangerous chemicals. So, here is how you will be able to keep them safe:
1. Apply the Use of Pet-Friendly Balms on Paws
Buff up those paws by applying pet-friendly balm that will create a cold barrier and rough surfaces on which your pet’s feet are going to walk. These types of balms will preserve some moisture on the paw pads and prevent them from becoming dry. It is very easy to purchase products prepared specifically for pets rather than make a mistake using toxic ingredients contained within some human moisturizers.
2. Purchase Booties for Dogs
This is a good idea for saving your darling from such things as cold, ice, and salt. They form an insulation layer. These little booties would provide a dog with protection from an icy surface and give traction when moving along slippery paths. Your dog may be irritated at the beginning, but they are all worth it during your winter walks.
3. Wipe Paws
After each walk, take a warm, wet washcloth and give your pet’s paws a good wipe down. This will remove the salt, chemicals, or ice that has more than likely clung to their paws, and because of it, their paws are causing the worst of it. Pay special attention to the space between their toes, where debris might be caked in that area, and thus irritate or even cause an infection in that space.
Overlong hair between your pet’s foot pads will readily ball up with ice and snow, making walking painful, and often causing skin abrasions. This hair should be trimmed to help reduce the incidence of ice balling. When you perform this task, be extremely careful not to cut too close to the skin.
5. Check the Paw Pads for Cuts and Abrasions
Get into a routine of regularly inspecting your pet’s paws for cuts, cracks, and redness. The sooner you figure that something is wrong, the less likely it will become worse, and the sooner you can get to your vet for treatment if needed in time.
Winter Skin Care for Your Pet
Skin Your dog’s skin needs a little extra special treatment through the winter, just like your dog’s paws. While inside heating combined with cold outdoor temperatures, skin usually tends to get a bit dried out. This could mean an uncomfortable pooch and even potential serious health problems. Here is how you take care of your dog’s skin and keep it moisturized and healthy during wintertime:
1. Moisturize
Just as humans would, it’s enough for pets to receive an occasional moisturization. Utilize any pet-safe moisturizer or coconut oil to keep the skin from drying out. You can apply this kind of moisturizer through the coat if you feel it’s dry and flaky on the skin. Human lotion is toxic to them, so avoid any of that variety to use on them.
2. Less Baths
Although one wants to keep their pet clean, too many take away the natural skin oils that can then lead to dryness and irritation. Minimize baths during winter to just the bare necessity. Use a moisturizing shampoo for your pet, and ensure the water is lukewarm, not hot, to help prevent the drought of your pet’s skin even further.
3. Keep Indoor Humidity
Indoor heating can dry up the humidity in your house, and the skin of your pet may become that loose. Most likely, you will want to use a humidifier just to keep the air moist. This will be useful not only in protecting the pet’s skin but also health complications from respiratory-related problems that might result from dry indoor air.
4. Modify Your Pet’s Diet
The background to a healthy skin and coat is based on a proper diet during winters. Supplements containing omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, when added to the diet, can help in maintaining hydration of skin and reduce the various inflammatory processes. Please consult with your veterinarian before any change in diet or addition of supplement is being made to the pet diet.
5. Provide Adequate Shelter
If your pet has been outdoors for a considerable part of the day, it is equally important that warmth be provided to them in a shaded enclosure, protecting against wind, rain, or snow. The area should be dry, protected from snow and wind accumulations, and large enough to allow your pet to stand up and turn around easily. Place the shelter in an area that will be protected from wind and snow. This will ensure that the shelter is dry and free from any drafts. If possible, it should be raised at least two inches off of the ground to prevent the foundation from being in the line of moisture seeping in from outside.
Cold Weather Pet Care: More Tips
Other important things to be thought of, other than the care of the paws and skin, for winter pet care include:
1. Keep Your Pet Warm
Dress your pet adequately, so they can enjoy their winter walks. It is important to be exceedingly cautious with small, shorthaired, and aged canines during winters because they easily catch the cold. Be sure that the coat fits nicely and does not bind at all on your pet.
2. Do Not Stay Out for Long
Reduce the exposure time of your pet to cold. In case of a sudden fall in temperature, it is rather better to keep yourself inside and engage both yourself and your pet in order to avoid boredom and for exercise.
3. Avoid Poisoning
Antifreeze is biochemically very lethal to pets and has a very sweet taste; generally, it appeals to the taste of even the wisest pets, making them lick or drink it. It should be placed in a sealed container and in its place. Spills are to be cleaned up at once. Be wary of antifreeze on sidewalks and roads when on walks since cats and dogs can easily come into contact with it.
Hypothermia is the severe state of very low levels of body temperature in your pet. Some signs that your pet may be experiencing hypothermia could include shivering, lethargy, and pale gums. If you believe your pet may be experiencing hypothermia, quickly cover your pet with a warm blanket and take them to see your vet. 5. Be Visible
It normally comes with short days and thereby low visibility in most places. In such times, one would like to put on some reflective gear when walking your pet, or at times a lighted collar so that the pedestrian and drivers can see you. This is highly recommended during morning or evening hours of the day.
Conclusion:
Winter care for your pet is a necessity for him to be safe, healthy, and comfortable during the cold season. The next tips will help you rescue your pet from damaging skin and pads with abrasions and blisters created by the weather so they, too, can enjoy the season comfortably, free from health issues. After all, everything is better when discussed with your vet, so if you specifically want to talk about your pet getting pampered in winter, make sure to give them a call.
