DrKatrina.com

While we are very good at looking after ourselves during the winter months, we often forget that our pets feel the cold as well. They look so cosy in their warm, furry jackets and cats especially seem to pass their days lazing on window sills in the sun or in the warmest spot on the lounge or bed.

 

It is important that owners of very young or very old pets take extra care during the winter months. .  Cold can be fatal for young puppies or kittens, particularly during the first few days after birth. Orphaned puppies are particularly susceptible.  Older dogs and cats tend to have more sluggish circulatory systems, which means they are more likely to find it harder to keep warm in the cold weather despite their gorgeous, furry coats. Older dogs often suffer from arthritis and this is exasperated by the cold.

 

Pets with very short coats such as Devon Rex or Cornish Rex cats, or pets with a low percentage of body fat such as Whippets or Greyhounds, are also very susceptible to the cold and must be kept cosy during winter.
 
To protect your pets against the onset of the cold winter months, make sure they have a warm, safe place to sleep at night, away from any draughts and if your dog is an outdoor dog, be sure that his/her kennel is waterproof. Older animals should sleep on a cushioned bed that is elevated off the ground.

 

An extra blanket in their bed or kennel will make all the difference - ­ a natural fibre blanket such as wool is not a pet-lover's indulgence, it actually retains the heat much better than a synthetic blanket! You can also buy heat pads from your pet store, which work like an electric blanket and will keep an older or ill puss or pooch warm during the night.

 

If your dog or cat is very short-haired, they will benefit from the added warmth of a jacket when they go outside. There are some great ones available that are waterproof as well as fashionable. Be sure to make sure jackets fit snugly but don’t restrict movement in anyway.

 

Finally, be sure to keep up your flea control regimen, even in winter. With modern houses being kept warm through the winter months, fleas can breed and be a terrible nuisance all year round. A once a month application of Advantage kills fleas fast on your pet and breaks their life cycle. It’s simple to use – just squeeze the pre-measured dose on the back and say goodbye to those horrible pests.