Pet Care in Cold Weather 

Very cold weather can be as dangerous for your pets as heatwaves, and you should always take precautions to keep your pets safe and warm during the winter months. Pets that live in urban areas spend a lot of their time indoors, which means they are more susceptible to cold weather. To stay warm in the cold months pets have to develop a thicker winter coat so they will not get hypothermia or frostbite when playing outdoors.

Boxers, Boston Terriers and Greyhounds are breeds of dog which all have a very low tolerance for the cold. They should have on a doggie sweater or coat if they are going to be outside during winter months. Small dogs with short coats like a Chihuahua are especially vulnerable to cold weather and should be kept indoors during extremely cold weather.

Dogs with long fur, like the Golden Retriever can develop foot problems due to ice balls forming between their pads and toes. This is very painful for them and often your dog will stop and whine and start chewing at the bottom of their feet. To help your dog have healthy feet you should trim the hair in your dog's feet. Salt - which may be picked up from road gritting - is also hard on a dog's feet and you should make sure to wash your dog's paws once he is back indoors.

Most cats prefer to spend the cold winter months indoors. However, some cats do like being outside in all weathers, so make sure they have a warm place to go when they want to get out of the cold. Animals that are outdoor pets need a place that can shelter them from the elements and a warm dry bedded place to stay warm. You will want to check their bedding often to make sure it is not wet from rain or snow.

It is generally best to keep your pets indoors when it is extremely cold outside. If that is not possible just make sure they have a place they can go to get out of the cold and stay warm. Remember that smaller animals like rabbits, guinea pigs, birds, and chinchillas will also need to be kept cosy in winter.

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