Being a pet owner can improve the quality of your life in many ways, but keep in mind that this responsibility will require time and effort. When you adopt a dog, for example, you’ll have to allocate resources to ensure that they remain healthy all year long.
Keeping pets healthy this winter is an important responsibility that many first-time pet owners struggle with. Most people think that keeping their pets indoors during the winter months is enough to keep them safe and healthy. However, this isn’t always the case because some houses can still get chilly indoors, and letting pets stay in all the time can lead to health risks.
If you want to keep your pets healthy this winter, take note of these tips:
- Invest In The Right Gear
Since people are fond of spoiling their pets nowadays, expect to find countless businesses that sell pet apparel. It’s because pet owners tend to treat their pets like their own children. Regardless of your pet’s breed, you won’t have any problems dressing them up.
One of the easiest (and the most fashionable) way of keeping your pets healthy this winter is by investing in the right gear. For instance, if you have a dog, you can look for dog jackets Canada or similar apparel within your area. You can also look for a winter sweater for your cats to ensure that they remain warm during the winter.
Aside from jackets and sweaters, you can also let your pets wear boots when needed.
- Assess The Temperature Before Going Outdoors
Just like human beings, your pets can also get frostbites and injuries when left outdoors for long periods. Some of the most common winter illnesses your pets can suffer are frostbite, hypothermia, kennel cough, and flu.
Another way to keep your pets healthy this winter is to assess the temperature outdoors before letting them out. If it’s too cold for you, then it’s probably too cold for your pets as well. Taking your dogs for walks is important, but it’s not worth the risk if it’s too cold outside.
- Wash And Dry Your Pet After Going Outdoors
If you get the chance to take your pets for walks during the winter months, don’t forget to wash and dry their paws and stomach. Your pets may step on ice, salt, and other chemicals during your walks that can cause severe pain over time. Pets are fond of licking their paws, but doing this excessively can also result in skin irritation.
Ideally, you should thoroughly wash and dry your pet’s paws and stomach before you let them inside the house. Teaching your pets to wait as you wipe their paws before letting them in is part of their obedience training. Don’t forget to check for any signs of bleeding or cracked paws while you’re cleaning them.
- Apply Petroleum Jelly To Your Pet’s Paws
Aside from letting your pets wear clothes that can keep them warm and comfortable for winter, it’s also important to protect their paws before heading out. As mentioned before, snow and other particles can get trapped in their paws and cause health problems.
Applying petroleum jelly is one of the most inexpensive and effective ways of protecting your pet’s paws. This product acts as a protective barrier that prevents ice, snow, and salt from getting stuck in their paws. Petroleum jelly can also hydrate and moisturize your pet’s paws and prevent them from cracking and drying out.
- Lessen Baths
Bathing your pet regularly is essential to keep them clean and healthy. It can also lessen the allergens in their body. Moreover, bathing your pet regularly is a good opportunity to check for any signs of health hazards such as skin rashes and ticks.
But during the winter months, you should make an exemption and lessen the frequency of bathing your pets. If you’re used to bathing your pet twice a week during the summer months, consider bathing them once a week or once every two weeks during winter. Bathing your pets excessively can remove natural oils produced by their bodies and increase their susceptibility to developing flaky and dry skin.
When bathing your pet, make sure that you’re only using moisturizing shampoos or rinses, as recommended by your veterinarian. These products are known to trap in the natural oils produced by your pets and improve the moisture in their skin.
Show Affection And Patience
Keeping your pets healthy this winter can be challenging, but not impossible to accomplish. As long as you remain affectionate and patient with your pets, you won’t have any problems keeping them healthy and happy during the winter months and even for the rest of the year.
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