How to help your pet fight the cold in winter

Oh, the cold winter... The short days, the freezing temperatures, the rain, the wind, the snow... The extreme weather of this part of the year is also suffered by your little furry ones. But we want to help you combat the cold of your pet and prevent it from contracting diseases if certain care is not taken into account to protect it, especially if it is in its first years of life or if it is already of advanced age. These will be the furry ones that are most susceptible to low temperatures.

We tell you some tricks to help your furry little one fight the cold in winter.

Take advantage of the hours of sunshine

The sun will be that precious natural asset that you and your furry friend will value so much during the long winter months. That is why you should make the most of the daylight hours to go out with your dog for a walk or exercise, when the temperatures are not so low as to pose any threat to your companion.

At home, both dogs and cats will look for sunny corners to curl up and rest warm. That's why we recommend taking advantage of that natural heat by leaving the blinds up in the points of the house where the sun enters. You can also place your furry friends' bed or rest area in these areas so that they are as comfortable as possible.

Take care of their fur

Remember that your pet's hair is its main natural weapon against the cold. Therefore, forget the scissors in winter! You should not shave or cut their fur during the coldest months of the year so that it acts as the thermal protector that it is. You should also regularly brush your four-legged companion so that his coat is healthy and free of knots or tangles and that its insulating effect is as efficient as possible.

Dry your furry friend well if he gets wet

After giving your four-legged friend a bath, you should dry his or her fur well, especially if it is a dog or cat with long, thick hair. Do not let him go outside in winter with his hair still wet to prevent him from catching a cold due to the low temperatures outside. That's why you can use towels and a dryer to remove all the moisture. Remember that the air in this must be at a soft power and temperature so that your furry friend does not feel too hot.

Wear some clothes for very cold days

On very cold days, cover your furry friend before going out for a walk, especially if he is very sensitive to low temperatures, if he is a puppy or if he is of an advanced age. Remember that there are dogs and cats more prepared for the cold, with thick layers of fur, but if your friend lacks hair or has very short and fine hair, he will be more vulnerable to the cold and changes in temperature, so he may need some coat throughout the winter.

Protect his paws

The pads that your dog or cat has at the base of their paws will be in direct contact with very cold and even icy surfaces during the winter months. One of the biggest threats to their paws is the salt used to melt snow or ice, as well as other chemical antifreezes that can cause burns. For this reason, it is important that you take care of this delicate part of your pet and dry it well when it gets home. You can use gels or waxes, which spread over their pads, and protect and insulate your friend's paws; Or, if you are going to walk in the snow, you have the option of putting your dog in special boots for them, which protect them on such cold surfaces.

Take care of your diet

In winter you have to keep in mind that your pet will spend more energy fighting the cold and maintaining its body heat. That he eats normally and regularly - Dibaq Petcare food for dogs and cats takes great care of the nutrition of your furry friends and adapts to the needs of each one of them according to their breed and age - it will be essential so that he can conserve energy and heat necessary during these months, but if you are thinking about changing your dog or cat's diet you should keep in mind that they will not need an extra supply of nutrients during these months of the year if they live indoors. An increase in food will only be necessary if your pet spends a lot of time outside or if he or she does more physical activity. In any case, it will be the veterinarian who will guide you in this regard.

Keep your furry friends warm at home

Surely, in winter, most of the time your pet will be at home, so you should provide him with an optimal resting area, in an isolated place well protected from the cold. Always put one or two blankets within reach for your furry friend so that he can use them or not depending on his needs and body temperature. You can also put a hot water bottle in your friend's bed, but always check that it is not too hot since excess heat will not be good for the animal either.

How to know if your pet is cold?

Given the low temperatures of winter, you must be attentive to the physical signs that your adventure companion gives you. It will not be difficult for you to identify if your dog or cat is cold, as it will show symptoms such as tremors and shivering, stiffness or numbness in some parts of the body, drowsiness, slow breathing or dryness and flaking of the skin.

If you notice any of these symptoms, act quickly and try to return heat to your furry friend through contact with your body or using blankets or some type of external heat source, such as a radiator.

Are you and your furry friend ready for winter? Grab your blankets and get warm! And don't worry, when you least expect it, spring will be peeking around the corner again.