Winter Pet Care Tips to Keep Dogs and Cats Healthy This Season
When frosty mornings and dark nights arrive, caring for your pets can be more challenging. Whether it’s icy paths on walks or Christmas chocolates lying around the house, knowing how to keep your dogs and cats safe through the winter months is really important. To help pet owners at this time of year, we have created a practical guide with some winter pet care tips. You can ensure you’re protecting against seasonal risks, keeping your four-legged friends comfortable in colder weather, and making the most of indoor enrichment.
Warmth and Comfort
The first step in winter pet care is ensuring your furry friends have a safe, cosy environment. Create warm sleeping spaces indoors using extra blankets or beds. This can be particularly beneficial for older pets, as cosy, padded beds can ease joint pain and improve comfort during cold nights, helping them sleep better and preventing stiffness.
For dogs and cats who spend more time outside, provide them with insulated shelters. Outdoor pets need dry, draft-free spaces with bedding that stays warm even on frosty nights. Regularly check the shelter for dampness and replace bedding if needed.
Outdoor Safety Tips
Cold and wet weather means you may need to change your usual routine to protect your pets from outdoor hazards. Ideally, swap long dog walks for shorter, more frequent walks. Breeds with thin fur or senior pets may need to wear coats to help them keep warm while they’re outside, helping prevent hypothermia or stiffness from the cold.
Winter surfaces can also be hazardous. Salt, grit, snow and ice can accumulate on your pets’ paws. After walks, check for irritation and wash their paws with warm water. Regularly trim the fur between paw pads to prevent painful ice buildup too. If you walk near frozen lakes or ponds, keep dogs on leads to reduce the risk of them falling through thin ice. It’s better to be safe than sorry, so avoid unknown surfaces and potential hazards in public parks or walking routes.
Dietary Advice
Nutrition plays a key role in helping keep pets healthy and happy during the winter months. Using high-quality dog food or cat food is even more important at this time of year. Balanced nutrients, with added vitamins and minerals, help to support immune health and energy throughout winter. Young or active dogs may also require slightly more food to account for extra calories burned staying warm.
For cats and dogs with outdoor access, ensure water bowls don’t freeze during the winter. Check them regularly and change the water if required. It can also be beneficial to use insulated containers for outside bowls.
Common Winter Hazards
Winter brings a range of environmental and festive risks that every pet owner should consider. Antifreeze, de-icers, and other chemicals used on roads and pavements are highly toxic to pets, so wipe paws after walks and keep chemicals locked away at home. Cats will often seek warmth by sheltering under cars or in wheel arches at this time of year, so always check underneath vehicles before starting the engine to avoid accidental injury.
Festive plants, such as holly, mistletoe, and poinsettia, can be intriguing to pets but can cause vomiting or even severe illness if chewed or ingested. Try to decorate with pet safety in mind, and place any dangerous plants out of reach.
Indoor Enrichment
Shorter daylight hours and miserable weather mean pets might spend more time indoors. You can boost their well-being with interactive activities. Dog toys and cat toys can help with mental stimulation and prevent boredom in the winter months.
Puzzle toys and treat-dispensing toys can encourage active play, just make sure you’re using healthy dog treats or cat treats to prevent excess weight gain. Comfort toys can also help alleviate separation anxiety if you’re busier during the festive period. Rotate your toy selection to avoid boredom, and try interactive play sessions to keep your pets engaged and physically fit.
General Winter Health
Keep an eye out for health changes in winter and address issues early to avoid serious complications. Look for signs of shivering, lethargy, or unusual hiding; these can indicate that your pet is too cold, stressed, or unwell.
Dry or cracked skin is more common at this time of the year, so consider adding omega oils to their diet (with vet approval) and keep indoor humidity at safe levels. Schedule regular vet checkups to manage ongoing health needs, especially for elderly pets who may need extra care and support during the winter.
Fireworks and Festive Stress
Winter celebrations such as New Year’s Eve often include fireworks, which can cause anxiety and distress in pets. Create a quiet space at home for your dog or cat, away from windows and doors. Use their favourite blankets and toys, and play calming music to mask outdoor sounds. Monitor for common signs of stress, such as pacing, panting, or hiding, and try to avoid leaving pets alone during firework displays.
If your pet experiences severe anxiety, you might want to speak to your vet about calming aids during the festive period, especially if you’re expecting guests or hosting parties. Similarly, if you’re taking your pet away for Christmas, pack some of their home comforts to help with anxiety. This time of year can be very overwhelming for pets, so make sure you’re thinking about their well-being.
Christmas Food Safety
The Christmas period brings lots of tempting treats, but not all are safe for pets. Foods like chocolate, mince pies, grapes, onions, and alcohol are toxic and should be kept out of reach. If in doubt, stick to natural dog treats or cat treats designed specifically for pets.
Ask your family and friends not to give your pets table scraps. Even small amounts of risky foods can have serious consequences, especially for smaller dogs and cats. Some safe festive treats include lean turkey, plain carrots, and recipes designed for canine or feline enjoyment. Just remember, these treats should only be given in moderation.
Keeping Your Pet Healthy This Winter
By using enrichment-focused toys, high-quality dog food and cat food, and sticking to healthy pet-friendly treats, you can help keep your pets safe this winter. Follow these practical tips for comfort, health, and happiness through the cold months.
At Favour, we’re passionate about supporting your pet’s well-being all year round. Shop our wide selection of cat and dog food brands, toys, treats, grooming supplies and accessories, all of which have been carefully chosen to nourish, entertain, and comfort your furry companions throughout the winter. You can turn to our website for trusted products and friendly advice, and we believe that pets deserve the very best.
Explore our shop today and discover the difference that quality makes for your pet’s health and happiness this winter. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact our team today.