How to Keep Your Pet Warm in Cold Weather
As the weather turns cold, it’s important as a pet owner to ensure your pet stays warm. Whether you have a cat, dog, or any other pet, knowing how to keep your pet warm in the cold weather is important for their well-being.
Cold weather can pose serious risks to pets, including frostbite, hypothermia, and respiratory issues, especially to elderly and short-haired pets.
Whether you’re experiencing mild chill or extreme cold weather, the following tips will help keep your furry friend warm indoors and outdoors.
Let’s look at how to keep your pet warm during the cold weather.
But first, let’s look at:
Signs Your Pet is Cold
Just like humans, pets also feel cold during the colder months, and they give signs, too. Here are signs your pet is feeling cold:
1. Trembling or Shivering
Just like humans, pets tremble or shiver when cold. When you notice this, wrap them in a blanket or take them to a warm area.
2. Hunched Posture
During cold weather, pets may tuck their tails, hunch their backs, or curl up tightly to conserve heat. Dogs normally lift their paws off the ground.
3. Whining
When feeling cold, pets might pace, vocalize, or seem restless. Cats often hide more than usual in cold places.
4. Cold Ears, Paws, and Tail
If your pet’s ears, paws, and tail feel cold to the touch, you need to warm them up immediately.
5. Lethargy or Slow Movement
A pet that is feeling cold may seem tired or sluggish. However, this could also be an early sign of hypothermia.
How to Keep Your Pet Warm in the Cold Weather
Fortunately, there are many practical ways to keep your furry friend warm and comfortable during the cold months.
#1. Provide Them With a Cozy Indoor Environment
A warm indoor space helps keep your pet warm and comfortable during cold weather. Provide your pet with a thick, insulated pet bed and place it away from the door and windows. For extra warmth, you can add soft blankets, pillows, and fleeces.
Furthermore, you can consider self-warming mats or pads that help pets reflect their body heat to conserve warmth. You can also elevate pet beds off cold tiles or floors with a thick mat or a raised pet bed.
#2. Limit their Time Outdoors
While pets need regular exercise, it’s important to limit their outdoor time during extreme cold weather. During their outdoor time, monitor them closely and bring them back indoors if you notice shivering, lifting paws from the ground, or whining.
#3. Adjust Their Diet
The cold weather might affect your pet’s dietary needs. Pets burn a lot of calories when trying to stay warm, which means they need more calorie intake in cold months, especially for those that spend a lot of time outdoors. However, this does not apply to pets who spend a lot of time indoors to prevent weight gain.
Consult with your vet when making diet changes during the cold months. Slightly warm their wet food to provide a warming effect. Additionally, provide your pets with fresh, unfrozen water and use heated bowls to give water to outdoor pets.
#4. Avoid Over-grooming
While many pet owners think grooming is only for hot weather, it’s also important during cold weather. However, you should avoid over-grooming. Fur is a wonderful natural insulator, and most breeds have double coats
During the cold months, depending on the breed, brush regularly to remove mats and distribute oils. Also, dry thoroughly after baths or use a pet-safe blow-dryer.
#5. Dress Your Pet in a Pet Sweater or Coat
While not all pets tolerate clothing, for those who do, you can dress them with jackets or coats to provide an extra layer of insulation. This is especially for senior, small, and short-haired pets when going out.
Ensure the clothing has a comfortable fit, but not too tight to restrict movement. Avoid clothes with zippers or loose buttons, as your pet might tear and swallow them, which might require emergency surgery to remove.
#6. Protect Their Paws When Outside
Cat and dog paws are very sensitive to cold, leading to discomfort, cracking, dryness, and even frostbite to paw pads if exposed to cold for too long. To protect your pet’s paws during cold weather, use pet booties to cover their paws.
In addition, apply petroleum jelly before walks to prevent cracking and dryness, and wipe your pet’s paws with a warm cloth after every walk.
#7. Provide Warm Shelter for Outdoor Pets
If you have outdoor pets, they need extra care during the cold weather. If you have a dog kennel or shelter, raise it several inches off the ground to prevent heat loss. Furthermore, ensure the kennel has insulated walls and a waterproof roof to prevent cold from reaching your dog.
Cold-Related Illnesses in Pets
Cold weather poses health risks to pets. Here are some of the cold-related illnesses in pets.
1. Hypothermia
Hypothermia occurs when a pet’s body temperature falls below the normal range due to prolonged exposure to cold temperatures. It can be fatal if not treated quickly. It mostly affects puppies and kittens, elderly pets, and pets with short or thin coats.
Symptoms include intense shivering, pale or blue gums, slow breathing, muscle stiffness, and weakness.
2. Respiratory Infections
Cold weather can weaken the immune system of pets, making them susceptible to respiratory infections such as feline upper respiratory infection in cats, kennel cough in dogs, and pneumonia in both cats and dogs.
A pet with respiratory infections experiences nasal discharge, runny eyes, sneezing or coughing, loss of appetite, noisy breathing, and lethargy.
3. Frostbite
Frostbite is when skin and underlying tissues freeze when exposed to extreme cold. It affects ears, tails, and paws. It occurs when blood flow is reduced to preserve body temperature. Signs of frostbite include grey, pale, or bluish skin, swelling, or blistering, pain when walking, and black skin if the condition is severe.
4. Arthritis Flare-Ups
Cold weather can worsen symptoms of arthritis in older pets or those with joint issues. While arthritis is not caused by cold, it can cause the condition to worsen, leading to limping, trouble climbing or jumping, reluctance to move, and behavioral changes.
Wrapping Up
Cold months can be a harsh season for pets if not properly taken care of. The change in weather affects how your pet eats and even behaves. That’s why, as a pet parent, knowing how to keep your pet warm in cold weather will make your furry friend remain healthy throughout the chilliest months of the year.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Cold is Too Cold for Pets?
Temperatures below 7 Degrees Celsius is risky especially for small and short-haired pets while temperatures below 32 Degrees Celcuis can be dangerous for most pets. The general rule is, if it’s too cold for you then it’s most likely too cold for your pet.
Is It Safe to Use a Human Space Heater for Pets?
It’s not recommended. Pets can knock them over and get burned. Always use pet-approved heating products.
How Can I Tell If My Pet is Cold at Night?
If you notice your pet shivering, burrowing under a blanket, whining, or curling into a tight ball at night, your pet might be cold.
