Winter is here. The pelting raindrops, freezing weather, and swirling snowflakes announce its arrival. Your urge to bundle up will cause you to get your warmest clothes out and dust off your winter jacket. But remember that your canine companion also requires special care when winter knocks at the door.
Chilly air, heavy snow, and a drop in temperature can expose your Fido to several medical conditions. Your pooch can catch respiratory issues, arthritis, kennel cough, hypothermia, and other illnesses in winter if you don’t take proper care of it.
To ensure that doesn’t happen, we’ll share some safety tips to keep your fur baby healthy, warm, and comfy during the chilly months.
#1 Alleviate Dry, Itchy Skin With a Moisturizing Shampoo and a Humidifier
A normal side effect of winter in both pets and their parents is dry, itchy skin. Seasonally dry air and low humidity levels are to blame for dry skin in canines. Constant scratching is the first clue of dry skin in dogs.
While this isn’t of great concern, it is downright uncomfortable for canines. Bathing your fur baby with a moisturizing shampoo will alleviate and soothe its dry winter skin . The next time you give your Fido a comfortably warm bath, consider using an aloe-based or an oatmeal-based shampoo.
Most dog shampoos are heavy in surfactants. These chemical compounds strip all oils from the hair shaft, including the natural protective ones. Thus, you should avoid them. Instead, choose a shampoo that is formulated without surfactants, sulfates, parabens, fragrances, artificial colors, as well as phthalates. Don’t bathe your Fido too often, though. Washing it more than once a month in winter can dry out its skin.
Running a humidifier in your home can offset the skin-drying effects. As a humidifier adds much-needed moisture to the air, it will soothe your pooch’s dry skin.
#2 Relieve Joint Pain With Medications and Supplements
The onset of cold weather can aggravate joint pain, especially in adult dogs.
Putting your canine’s daily walk on hold or not letting it play outside for long hours in very cold temperatures can cause joint stiffness and pain. The thickening of the joint fluids that handle the shock of movement is also responsible for aches in canines.
Prescription medications can help alleviate pain. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as firocoxib, grapiprant, and carprofen can decrease inflammation in canines.
However, never should you give pain medications to your dogs on your own. You never know if they could have a toxic effect on your Fido.
Supplements are also helpful in decreasing joint pain and swelling. These include glucosamine, chondroitin, and omega-3 fatty acids.
Chondroitin and glucosamine nourish tissues in joint linings, promote water retention and elasticity, and prevent damage caused by inflammation. Fish oils are helpful in decreasing inflammation. But be sure to check with your vet before you give any supplement to your canine.
A useful joint health supplement, according to PetCareRx, is Dasuquin for dogs. This non-prescription medical supplement is #1 vet-recommended for dog joint health. Dasuquin, an oral chew, contains both glucosamine and chondroitin. Thus, it prevents cartilage breakdown.
Instead of a local pet store, consider shopping for joint supplements from online pet supply stores. Many pet supply stores offer pet subscription boxes for joint supplements. Opting for them would be wise, as it can save you a good chunk of money per year.
A pet supply subscription box often includes everything you might need for your pooch. Besides joint supplements, it often includes an endless supply of food, healthy treats, and heartworm, flea, and tick preventives.
Most dog subscription boxes also include high-quality toys. Depending on the subscription plan, your box might contain two toys, four toys, or even more.
#3 Protect Your Pooch’s Feet With Wax
All dog owners invest in winter jackets and sweaters to protect their canines from the biting cold. But not everyone thinks of protecting their feet.
Icy roads and sidewalks can be harsh on your Fido’s paws. Consider using wax or booties to shield its paws from winter hazards.
Paw wax can protect your fur baby’s paws against ice buildup, snow, and chemical burns from ice melt. Therefore, you should apply it daily to ensure your canine’s paws are safe in cold weather.
Slathering wax on your pooch’s paws before hitting the streets for a winter walk will prevent ice buildup between its toes. You can also use wax to moisturize its paws after walks. But be sure to wipe down salt, ice, or chemicals first.
Always shop for paw waxes containing organic ingredients. Look for balms that contain soy, avocado, and coconut, as well as nourishing and softening substances such as aloe vera and cocoa butter. These ingredients will regenerate your Fido’s dry and cracked paws.
#4 Take Care of Your Pooch’s Nutrition
In the winter season, it’s essential for pet parents to prioritize their pooch’s nutrition for its well-being.
As the temperature drops, dogs start using a large amount of energy to stave off the cold and stay warm, especially if they are kenneled outside. Instinctively, these creatures consume more calories to keep up with the calories they are burning due to shivering.
To ensure your Fido remains in the pink of health in winter, you must feed them two or three times more calories than you would in other seasons. You can add an extra meal or increase the portion size of each meal. This will supply it with the calories it needs to maintain a healthy weight and stay warm.
You can also opt for energy-dense foods, high in key nutrients such as dietary fat. We advise so because dietary fat is a good source of energy.
Many vets advise pet parents to feed warm meals to their furry companions. Feeding warm food improves blood circulation in pets. That means the blood isn’t concentrated in the trunk’s body but flows to the end of the body. You can either warm up homemade food or add warm water to your pooch’s dry food.
Putting it all together, dogs require suitable care despite their furry coats when temperatures drop. Make sure you stock on moisturizing shampoos, medications, and supplements, and feed them enough calories during the chilly months. A humidifier helps relieve dry, itchy skin, so run it in areas where your pooch spends the most time.
You must also limit your canine’s outdoor time to avoid respiratory issues. Instead, purchase some fun toys so that they can play indoors. Dogs become cuddly in winter, so don’t forget to cuddle your pooch.
