{"id":13969,"date":"2022-12-06T10:36:33","date_gmt":"2022-12-06T16:36:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/?p=13969"},"modified":"2024-03-06T08:10:04","modified_gmt":"2024-03-06T14:10:04","slug":"winter-survival-guide-for-pets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/blog\/health\/conditions\/winter-survival-guide-for-pets\/","title":{"rendered":"A Winter Survival Guide for Pets"},"content":{"rendered":"

While some pets enjoy living in a winter wonderland<\/a>, other pets can suffer the same winter woes as people. From dry skin to finding ways to keep warm to packing on a little \u201cwinter weight,\u201d some pets can use help to make sure they stay healthy and safe during winter. So we\u2019ve created a winter survival guide for cats and dogs (and their pet parents).<\/p>\n

Managing Dry Skin and Protecting Paws<\/h2>\n

The low-humidity, bone-chilling air of winter can be just as harsh on your pet\u2019s skin as it is on yours. Thick fur and thickened paw pads give pets some protection against winter\u2019s wrath, but winter can still be tough on your pet\u2019s skin. Common winter skin issues include sore paws<\/a>, dry skin<\/a> and dandruff<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Snow and ice can collect between your pet\u2019s toes and paw pads, so it\u2019s helpful to keep your pet\u2019s nails and the hair between their paw pads trimmed. If you\u2019re on a walk with your dog, try to stop periodically to remove any snow or ice from their paws. You can also use products like a protective paw wax, a moisture-rich paw salve or booties to help protect their paws<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Dandruff (or seborrhea) consists of dry skin cells that flaked off of the skin\u2019s surface and are visible on your pet\u2019s skin, coat or other household surfaces. Dry skin can be itchy and irritating for pets, but there are things you can do to help make your pet more comfortable \u2014 see our dry-skin management tips below.<\/p>\n

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Avoiding Winter Weight Gain<\/h2>\n

Many dog parents know the struggle of getting their dog to go potty in the middle of winter and are often greeted with a look that clearly says, \u201cI am not<\/strong> going out there today.\u201d So what are the chances of getting them to go for a walk around the block? Pretty slim (and there\u2019s a good chance you don\u2019t want to go out there either). Similarly, if you have a cat that enjoys spending time in their outdoor cat run, they\u2019re probably not going to venture out there much in winter.<\/p>\n

To help avoid winter weight gain<\/a>, try playing games inside to get your pet moving. Dogs can play fetch in an open area, compete with you in stair races or you could both join an indoor agility class. Cats can play<\/a> chase the red dot, catch the remote controlled mouse or follow the feather.<\/p>\n

Depending on your pet\u2019s activity levels, reducing their calorie intake may also help manage their weight (more on changing food later). Cutting back on treats (like breaking them in half) is another good way to reduce calorie intake, if necessary. You could also put treats in a food puzzle<\/a> which may help burn a few calories at the same time as keeping them mentally stimulated. However, always check with your veterinarian before making major changes to your pet\u2019s diet.<\/p>\n

Staying Warm and Toasty<\/h2>\n

Most pets can tolerate winter weather if they\u2019re given time to acclimate (e.g., spending time outside during fall) versus abruptly changing climates (e.g., moving from Florida to Maine in January). However, extreme cold and sub-zero wind chills are the exception. Even cold-conditioned dogs who have thick coats and enjoy winter snow sports can get too cold if they don\u2019t have adequate shelter and nutrition.<\/p>\n

The general rule is that pets shouldn\u2019t be outside in temperatures below 20 \u00b0F for very long without protection, as they can potentially develop frostbite or hypothermia. Your pet\u2019s age, breed<\/a>, size and overall health can affect how quickly they become too cold.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re wondering if you should put a coat on your dog, the answer is: it depends. This article<\/a> can help you decide whether you should use a coat on your dog. If you do use a coat, make sure it fits properly, the material is appropriate and it\u2019s easy to get on and off.<\/p>\n

If you have an outdoor cat<\/a> or a primarily outdoor-living dog<\/a>, it\u2019s important that they have shelter from the wind, cold and snow. This includes bedding that resists moisture and keeps their shelter warm. Straw is a good choice, but don\u2019t use blankets, towels or pet beds as they can freeze if they get wet.<\/p>\n

Parasites, Poisons and Other Winter Perils<\/h2>\n

Some people believe that ticks die during the first frost of the season, but this is actually a myth<\/a>. Ticks don\u2019t die in winter; instead, they become dormant, hide in leaf litter, move indoors or spend winter on animals. Fleas can also survive temperatures in the mid- to upper 30 \u00b0F range and can ride out winter on animals. Similarly, pets can still be infected with intestinal parasites like roundworms and hookworms if they catch and eat an infected animal, and some parasite eggs can survive freezing temperatures. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to continue using your pet\u2019s internal and external parasite preventatives<\/a> year-round, as the parasites don\u2019t disappear in winter.<\/p>\n

Winter also brings some new hazards for pets. Prolonged contact with snow- and ice-melting products can dry out or irritate paw pads, or cause chemical burns in some cases. These products can also be poisonous when consumed in large amounts, which is why it\u2019s a good idea to only use pet-safe deicers. Or you could use sand or non-clumping kitty litter to provide traction on slippery sidewalks and driveways. Antifreeze<\/a> is another winter-related pet poison, so keep all bottles out of reach and immediately clean up any leaks.<\/p>\n

If your pet likes to eat snow<\/a>, that\u2019s probably OK, as long as it\u2019s fresh, clean snow in small amounts. Of course, we all know the dangers of \u201cyellow snow,\u201d but dirty snow could also be contaminated with non-pet-safe deicer or other hazards, particularly if it was pushed off the road by snowplows. Generally, it\u2019s OK if your pet eats fresh snow as it falls, but they should avoid \u201cdeep dive\u201d snow that could have rocks or other choking hazards in it, and they should also limit how much snow they eat to avoid an upset tummy.<\/p>\n

Should You Change Your Pet\u2019s Nutrition in Winter?<\/h2>\n

If your pet\u2019s activity level stays fairly constant all year, you probably don\u2019t need to adjust their diet in winter<\/a>. For example, if you live in a temperate climate where winter rarely affects your ability to spend time outside, or your pet spends most of their time indoors, their calorie intake can probably remain the same.<\/p>\n

However, if your pet basically acts like they\u2019re hibernating and rarely ventures outside in winter, they may need to be fed less to support a healthy weight. On the other paw, if your dog is an honorary snow bunny or you both enjoy spending time doing winter sports<\/a>, they may benefit from more food, as they\u2019ll need more calories to stay warm. Similarly, if you have an outdoor cat<\/a> or a primarily outdoor dog<\/a>, they can benefit from increased food during winter to help maintain their body temperature. Remember to always check with your veterinarian before making large changes to your pet\u2019s nutrition.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Winter can be challenging for pets (and their pet parents!), but hopefully our winter survival guide will help your pet stay healthy and safe during those cold months. And remember, spring is right around the corner!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

RELATED POST: The 12 Pet Hazards of Christmas<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

While some pets enjoy living in a winter wonderland, other pets can suffer the same winter woes as people. From dry skin to finding ways to keep warm to packing on a little \u201cwinter weight,\u201d some pets can use help to make sure they stay healthy and safe during winter. So we\u2019ve created a winter […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":13972,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"A Winter Survival Guide for Pets","_seopress_titles_desc":"Winter can be tough on pets, from dry skin to weight gain and more. Read our guide to surviving winter woes and how to keep your pets healthy and safe!","_seopress_robots_index":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_searchwp_excluded":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[291,28],"tags":[100,134,10,816,442,815],"class_list":["post-13969","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-conditions","category-health","tag-cat","tag-diamond-pet-foods","tag-dog","tag-pet-animal-winter-survival","tag-pet-nutrition","tag-winter-pet-health"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13969","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13969"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13969\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13972"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13969"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13969"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13969"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}