TIPS FOR CARING YOUR PETS DUING WINTER
During winter season your canine companion needs special care and attention during this season. It’s time to take a close look at the diet of your pooch because the chances are he is going to be less active than he typically is during the summer season. In cold weather, many dog owners are not so keen to take their dogs out for very long walks, as they do in the summer. If a dog gets less exercise, he will not use up as many calories, which results he doesn’t need to be fed the same amount of food. If you feed your pet exactly the same way as you do in summer season, they run the risk of gaining weight which in turn puts his health at risk. Therefore, in winter give your pooch less food as you used to give in summer season.
The temperature in the winters is very low, and the food is also easy to cold. Therefore, you should let your dog eat the entire food before the food become cold. In addition to this, you should add cream, viscera, milk, and give those foods that contain vitamin A and fat. It will enhance your dog’s ability of fighting cold. Make sure not to offer these foods to your dog for a very long time, otherwise you will hurt your dog’s health. For example, if your pooch drinks milk for long period, he may suffer from diarrhoea and other symptoms. If you feed your dog carrots (rich in vitamin A) for a long time, it may cause the dog poisoning. Therefore, it is advised that you should distribute the dog food reasonably and offer more pet products for your dog.
Another commonly ignored winter need is adequate water. Dogs can dehydrate quickly in the winter as in the summer. Therefore, often check the water bowl of your dog. Though many dogs eat snow, yet it is not an enough substitute for fresh water. In fact, eating snow can be dangerous for your dog, especially if vehicles are nearby, as they pose a possible antifreeze threat. This antifreeze is quite toxic and even a small amount can be fatal for pooch.
How To Protect Their Paws In Winter?
Their paws are very sensitive to the cold.This is universal for all dogs. It doesn’t matter if you have a furry dog or a short-haired dog – you must provide them with proper footwear. In India, most households have marble/mosaic flooring which means that they not only have cold paws outdoors but indoors as well.It’s so uncomfortable to walk on the cold marble. Even the thought of walking on cold marble gives us cold feet. Imagine how they feel when they have to do the same.
This is the best time to invest in good quality footwear for the outdoors. Footwear that gives them good grip, good support and is easy to put on and take off are good dog shoes.At home, it would be best to lay carpets to protect their paws from getting cold. It’s the best time to trim their nails. Longer nails often prick into their cold and sensitive paws, causing them to get an infection.
How to keep your dog warm in the winter?
It’s ideal to warm them using natural methods rather than using heaters and coolers.This really depends on how cold your place gets, and how equipped your dog is to handle winter.If your dog shivers, struggles to move refuses to go for walks, it is best to invest in a good dog jacket/full coverage jumpsuit. This will keep them comfortable even during the coldest months of the year. Jumpsuits for dogs have an opening around the genital area making it easy for them to relieve themselves whenever they need to.Even the furriest of dogs can get cold around their ears, tails and feet. The cold also makes their ears very dry, causing them to get more cold through the cracks of their skin. You can massage small amounts of coconut oil on the tips of their ears, paws and areas of their body that does not have a lot of fur. This will keep them warm and ready for the winter.
Lastly, make sure to check their paws after a walk. If your dog doesn’t tolerate footwear, you must check their paws after every walk. Small stones and pebbles hurt the foot more when it’s cold and since the skin around the paws grows hard and brittle in the winter, stones can cause friction and lead to cuts and bruises.Make sure to wash their paws in lukewarm water and dry it thoroughly before you let them in.
Diet For Dogs in Winter
Winter denotes not only a change in the weather and season but also a change in the regular diet of your pet. Expert explained the importance of nutritious food for pets during winter. Whether your pet enjoys the chilly weather or would rather curl up on the couch with a soft blanket, you must be ready for the winter season. Winter denotes not only a change in the weather and season but also a change in the regular diet of your pet. Many pet owners are unaware of the significance of altering their pet’s diets during the cooler months. Many places can experience lots of bone-chilling colds and skin-soaking rainy weather in late fall and winter. You might consider altering your pet’s nutrition as the weather turns colder and the days become shorter. Your location, the sort of winter weather there, and how much time you spend with your pet will all influence the answer. Feeding your pets the right nutrition in the right proportions is crucial. Pets require a specific ratio of protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water each day to maintain regular body functions. Just like humans, different pets have varying nutritional needs. Compared to adult pets, newborn and young pets have different needs. Pets who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have diabetes have distinct nutritional demands. It is important to provide the right nutrition to prevent or manage health conditions like obesity, diarrhoea, arthritis, thyroid etc. Most pet foods do not fulfil nutritional requirements and need supplements/nutrition toppers – like Henlo. These nutrients help to keep your pet’s metabolism and immune system functioning normally.
The winter can have an impact on your pet’s appetite just like other seasons do. Pets eat more during the winter because they require a little additional fat to stave off the chill and stay warm. However, you should be aware that overeating might result in being overweight and other serious diseases. As the temperature drops, pets will gradually move less and exercise less. As a result, their metabolism slows down and they consume fewer calories. In this scenario, they should consume less food that is high in fibre, protein, vitamins, and minerals while being low in calories and carbohydrates.
Your dog burns more calories in the winters just to keep themselves warm. So, they should ideally eat 10% more calories in the winter. However, if you live in a place with harsh winters, their activity levels also tend to reduce. In such a situation, feeding them more calories might, in fact, lead to weight gain.
Instead of increasing or decreasing their calorie intake, we would suggest that you change the type of meat they eat during the winters. You can feed them dog food that contains red meat and add a small helping of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids to their diet. This will keep their skin from crackling and give them a luscious shine.Knowing that our dogs need more calories in the winter, we often feed them more than they need. This leads to obesity.If your dog is losing too much weight or gaining too much weight, you should consult your doctor for a specific winter diet. Otherwise, you don’t need to make major changes to their diet in the winter.
To help you with this, here are some quick tips that will ensure your pets stay healthy during the winter season :
- For dogs, increase the calorie nutrition in their diet.
- Always serve warm food to aid in digestion.
- Consider giving supplements or a nutrition topper.
- Keep an eye on their coat and behaviour for signs of nutritional deficiencies.
- Since most pets won’t drink much water in the winter, make sure to include it in their meals so that they stay hydrated and always have access to fresh water.
Winter Heating Products
Most Indian households do not have central heating. We use heaters and radiators to keep ourselves warm. That’s alright if you are in the same room as your pet but please do not leave a heater unattended with your pet.If your dog comes too near they may catch fire or get an electric shock. In short, it is a disaster waiting to happen.Instead of heaters and radiators, you can keep them warm with blankets and hot water bags.
The Hazards Of Over Heating
Remember everything in excess will cause harm. Dogs are much more resilient to heat and cold than we are and it is fair to give them the opportunity to fight the cold by themselves.Make changes with their bedding, clothing and food only if you notice visible changes like lethargy, lack of interest in food/water, resistance to leave the house etc. If your dog is coping well with the weather you don’t have to do anything to make them comfortable.
Common symptoms of overheating include:
- Excessive thirst
- Deep red tongue and gums
- Excessive drooling and panting
- Thicker saliva
- Rise in temperature
- Increase in heartbeat
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fainting
If you have a rectal thermometer, you can use it to check for a rise in temperature. Their temperature should be between 101 – 102°F. If it is any higher you must cool them either with the help of a fan or room temperature water. Do not cool them too quickly because rapid heating and cooling can pose other health risks as well.
Electrical heaters and radiators pose many threats and overheating is just one of them. This is why we strongly suggest to steer clear from them and use natural ways to keep your dog warm in the winters.Winter months are the best months for some of us. The simple tips above will protect your dogs and ensure that they enjoy the winters as well.
DR BN RAM, NEW DELHI
IMAGES-CREDIT GOOGLE
