As the temperature drops, it can be tempting to keep your dog inside all day long. However, this is a bad idea for both your dog and yourself. The cold weather can harm their skin and make them susceptible to illness. When it’s wintertime in your area, you need to make sure that you’re doing everything possible to keep your dog healthy and happy! Here are 7 ways you can help them out during this time:
Brush Their Coat
Brushing is an important part of caring for your dog’s coat. It removes dead hair, dirt, and debris that can build up on their skin, as well as helps distribute the natural oils throughout their coat. Brushing also improves blood circulation to the skin and assists in removing any tangles from the fur.
Brushing is one of the best ways to bond with your dog during winter months when you’re both indoors most of the time!
Check Their Paws
If you notice any cuts, abrasions, or other injuries on your dog’s paws, it’s important to get them checked out by a vet right away. This can help prevent infection and further damage.
If you notice that your dog is limping and has been limping for more than a few days, consult with your vet as soon as possible. He may have frostbite on his feet which needs treatment immediately—especially if they’re red or blue!
Protect Their Ears
Your dog’s ears are more sensitive than human ears and can get cold, so make sure you give them a warm place to sleep. If they’re going to spend a lot of time outside in the wintertime, protect their ears with a hat or scarf.
Dogs’ ears can also be susceptible to infections like yeast or mites that could cause discomfort and even permanent damage if left untreated.
Warmth is important for dogs’ other senses as well—including smell and touch—so it’s important that you keep those areas protected from frostbite as well by covering up your pet’s paws when walking around outdoors during cold weather months (and especially before November).
Offer The Right Food
When it comes to feeding your dog, the right food is essential. In winter, dogs need more calories than they do in summer because their bodies have to burn off extra heat. They also need a higher-calorie diet for their metabolic rate and activity levels, which are higher in colder weather.
While you may be tempted to give your dog human food or treats during the winter months (especially if you live in an area where there’s snow), this can lead to obesity issues and dental health problems down the road! Instead of giving them human food regularly—which will make them overweight—try making sure that all of their meals contain at least 30% protein by weight.* You can also give them smaller portions at one time instead than multiple large ones; this will cut down on how much food they’re eating overall while still providing enough energy for normal activity levels during cold weather periods like these.* The best thing about feeding dogs properly balanced diets is that they’ll stay healthy throughout their lives!
Stay Active (Outdoors and Indoors)
Exercise is important for dogs, and it’s especially important during the winter. If your dog doesn’t get enough exercise, it may become overweight or develop arthritis as they age. Furthermore, if you don’t give them an outlet for their energy in the form of physical activity, they can develop boredom-related problems like anxiety and even aggression.
- To maintain muscle mass and bone density while exercising indoors: While it’s not necessary to do a lot of intense workouts every day (or even once every day), light walking will help keep your dog’s joints healthy and strong. This also helps prevent weight gain from sitting around all day without doing anything! You should be able to see some improvement within two weeks; however, if your pup does not seem interested in walking with you anymore after about four days then try using other forms of exercise such as playing fetch or going on long walks together outdoors instead.”
Use Sunscreen
- Apply sunscreen to your dog’s nose, lips, and ears. The sun is a dangerous place for dogs—and humans—to be, so you must use sunscreen on them as well.
- Use sunscreen designed for dogs (like this one).
- Apply at least once per day.
Give Your Dog a Warm Bed
- Make sure your dog has a warm bed. If you don’t have one, you can buy one from a pet store or online. You may also be able to use an old blanket or towel on the floor as well as a real bed for your pet.
- Don’t forget to clean your dog’s bed regularly so it stays free of dirt and bacteria that could cause illness in its fur coat, making them susceptible to cold weather ailments such as pneumonia and bronchitis if left untreated over time by using antibacterial wipes like Clorox Clean-Up Wipes which are safe on everything including fabrics like carpeting as well as hardwood floors without damaging them at all!
Follow these 7 tips to keep your dog happy and healthy this winter.
Follow these 7 tips to keep your dog happy and healthy this winter.
- Be sure to check with your vet before making any changes to your dog’s diet. Your veterinarian is the best source of information about what foods are best for dogs, so be sure to ask them if it’s okay for you to change his or her food.
- Make sure your dog has a warm bed. Dogs need shelter from the cold weather, but they also need room for movement around their home (and even outside) so that they don’t get too stiff or uncomfortable due to sitting still all day long alone in one spot indoors all day long without being able to move around freely which could lead towards some serious health issues over time if left untreated properly.”
Conclusion
We hope these tips will help you care for your dog during the winter. As we have seen, it’s important to take good care of your pet so they can live a long and healthy life. Remember that dogs are very sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity so be sure to do everything possible to keep them warm enough when it’s cold outside.
