As the temperature drops, it’s really important to make sure your pets stay warm and comfortable. If it’s too cold for you to sleep outside, it’s too cold for them.
There are breeds of dogs and cats that thrive in this weather, as they have very thick double coats but most of our pets need some help staying warm. If your pet is short hair, old or thin, they will benefit from a warm coat when they are outside. Your dog/cat will be spending more time snuggled up in their beds when it’s cold so check their bedding is away from drafts and elevated off the cold ground. Providing blankets and heating mats will keep them warm also. If your dog or cat has to be outside when you’re not home, make sure their sleeping area is sheltered, draft free and their bedding is dry.
The cold weather is definitely harder on our senior pets and this might be the time you notice them moving more slowly. Arthritis is aggravated by the cold so if your pet is showing signs of stiffness, chewing or licking joints, has trouble getting up after sleeping and just seems to be slowing down, this is their way of showing you they are in pain.
Some people associate these symptoms with ‘he/she is just getting old’ and although arthritis is seen more in older pets, old age is not a disease and arthritis is. There are many approaches to help relieve arthritis such as supplements, arthritis injections and anti-inflammatories so please book a visit with our vets so we can discuss the best course of treatment for your pet.