Winter care for pets Provide cozy bedding to your pets. Don’t let your pet sleep on a cold floor in winter. Choosing the right bedding is vital to ensure your dog stays warm. Warm blankets, raised beds can keep your dog off cold tiles or concrete, and heated pet beds can help keep the stiffness out of aging joints. Place your dog’s bed in a warm spot away from drafts, cold tile or uncarpeted floors, preferably in a favorite spot where she sleeps every day so that the area doesn’t feel unfamiliar. Your dog needs a clean, well-groomed coat to keep her properly insulated. This is especially important if your dog spends a lot of time outdoors. After bathing, dry your dog thoroughly, especially before allowing her outside. Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter, as a longer coat will provide more warmth. If your dog is long-haired, simply trim him and don’t neglect the hair between his toes. If your dog is short-haired, consider getting him a coat or sweater with a high collar. Bathe your pets as little as possible during winters. Washing too often can remove essential oils and increase the chance of developing dry, flaky skin. If your pet must be bathed, ask your vet to recommend a moisturizing shampoo and/or rinse Dry and cold weather can do a number on your pet’s skin. Help prevent dry, flaky skin by adding a skin and coat supplement to her food. Coconut oil is a good natural moisturizer that can help keep your pet’s skin and coat healthy. If you find your pet’s paws, ears or tail are dry or cracking, you can also apply coconut oil topically as needed. Cold weather will often aggravate existing medical conditions in dogs, particularly arthritis. It’s very important to maintain an exercise regimen with your arthritic dog, but be mindful of slippery surfaces and make sure your dog has a warm soft rest area to recuperate after activity. If you don’t already give your senior dog a natural joint supplement to lubricate the joints and ease the discomfort of arthritis, you may want to consider adding one in winter. Just like people, dogs are more susceptible to other illnesses during winter weather. Don’t overfeed your pets in winters. As they tend to execrcise less they require less calories so adjust their diet accordingly. A high quality high protein diet and fish-based diet is ideal for this weather. They contain plenty of omega fatty acids that improve the health of your pet’s coat and skin. VETERINARY SURGEON | VETERINARY DOCTOR | VETERINARY DOCTOR IN INDORE | VETERINARY SURGEON IN INDORE | PET CLINIC IN INDORE | PET DOCTOR IN INDORE