Tweet
To keep your pet warm in winter,
provide a warm indoor sleeping area with blankets, consider heated beds for older or smaller pets, and limit outdoor time. For outdoor excursions, dress your pet in a sweater or coat and booties for paw protection, and ensure their outdoor shelter is insulated, dry, and draft-free. Always ensure they have access to fresh, unfrozen water, and consider a slight increase in food to help them maintain energy.
Indoors
- Create a cozy bed: Place a soft bed and blankets in a draft-free area of your home, away from windows and doors.
- Add warmth: Use a self-warming mat or a heated pet bed for extra comfort, especially for puppies, senior pets, or those with thin coats.
- Block drafts: Elevate their bedding off the cold floor. You can also drape blankets over a crate to trap heat.
- Keep the home warm: If you are cold, your pet is likely cold too. Ensure your home's heating is adequate.
- Use heat safely: Be cautious with space heaters and heated mats, and never leave them unattended. Always supervise your pet, especially if using a heated blanket.
- Limit time outside: Shorten the length of your pet's time outdoors, particularly in extreme cold. Small dogs or those with short coats should not be outside for long periods if temperatures are below freezing.
- Dress them up: Use a sweater, jacket, or booties to provide extra insulation and protect paws from cold and salt.
- Provide warm, dry shelter: If your pet must spend time outside, make sure their shelter is well-insulated, dry, and protected from wind and elements. Replace wet bedding with dry materials like straw or synthetic fleece, as wet blankets can make your pet colder.
- Provide unfrozen water: Always ensure your pet has access to fresh water that has not frozen over.
- Adjust food intake: Your pet may need more food to maintain their body temperature in colder weather.
- Protect paws: Wipe your pet's paws after walks to remove deicing salts, which can be toxic if ingested.
- Consider grooming: Avoid cutting your pet's hair too short during winter months, as their natural coat provides insulation.