Winter legs and a frozen tail …. As soon as winter starts to get cold and even snow falls, there are a number of things that you as an animal owner should pay attention to so that your animals are ready for winter!
Although winter is not the favorite time of the year for many, most people can still appreciate a beautiful winter day with a thick layer of snow, a bright blue sky and a lovely sun. These are also ideal weather conditions for a nice long walk with the dog, which is usually quite excited by that white stuff on its legs. Most dogs also love to bite in the snow and some can eat quite a bit but often have to get over with a bad stomach ache. Is your dog such a snow eater? try to avoid that as much as possible.
Go outside without a coat
Fortunately, most dogs in our country have quite a thick coat, which means they can walk around in the freezing cold for a while without any problems. However, there are dog breeds with a different coat that are sensitive to the cold. With dogs without an undercoat – such as the Maltese, dogs that are (almost) bald – such as the Mexican hairless dog, shaved dogs and dogs that have never been outside – such as young puppies – you should of course be careful. In extreme cold, you should limit the time these animals spend outside as much as possible. Moreover, it is important that these animals keep moving outside; so the chat with the neighbor, while the dog is waiting on a leash and cooling off – better skip it. These animals can also lose energy when you play with the ball or do detective games. In addition, there are ?? jackets ?? for sale that keep the dog nice and warm and that can be really necessary in harsh weather conditions with the aforementioned dogs.
Wet cold
The combination of moisture, cold and wind poses greater problems than dry cold alone. A wet coat will cool down any dog - even those with a thicker coat – pretty quickly. Therefore, limit the time you walk your dog outside in these weather conditions. For all dogs, you should check the soles of the feet even more in snow and ice. Snow can form ice clumps on the long hairs between the sole pads. This is not only uncomfortable, but can also be quite painful. You can prevent this problem by cutting the long hairs between the sole cushions on time and regularly. Also pay attention to the skin of the sole cushions themselves and lubricate it regularly with a little Vaseline in winter. This keeps the sole cushions soft and prevents cracks and chaps. When it is slippery, a lot of road salt is usually sprinkled. Walking down the street brings dog feet into contact with the brine, which has a caustic effect, especially in the open crevices. An extra lick of petroleum jelly before the walk on the soles of the feet keeps the brine at bay and thus prevents pain and lameness.
Winter fun for the cat
In general, what applies to the dog also applies to the cat. However, most cats will not go outside so quickly in very bad weather. Still, it is not unwise to keep an eye on the weather forecast if you are a cat owner. For example, do you have a cat that likes to be outside all day while you are working outdoors? And can this cat not enter by itself through a cat flap, for example? Or is the cat regularly as wet as a drowned cat? waiting in front of your house until you get home? Then it may be unwise to let the cat outside in extreme cold or in a combination of cold and damp weather. You can imagine what happens when such a cat walks outside all day in the cold when it cannot? or wants to hide and his coat gets wetter. That is of course not beneficial to his health. In these cases it is therefore better to keep the cat indoors, comfortably by the stove. By the way, do you remember that every cat needs two litter boxes when it does its business indoors? In the ?? free ?? nature also urinates and defecates in different places. By imitating this situation in the house and placing at least two litter boxes in different places, you can often prevent your cat from becoming untrained.
??and the rest
Of course there are many more (pets) animals that you can protect against harsh weather conditions. Rabbits that are used to staying in an outside cage all year round can only stay in it during frost periods in winter, if the outside cage has a closed section. The rabbit must be able to sit protected from wind, rain and cold. The so-called night loft of such a country house is often very well suited for this. Fill this part of the cage with a thick layer of hay so that the rabbit can build a nice warm nest. Rabbits that have been indoors earlier in the year cannot suddenly be kept outside in the winter. Their fur is not thick enough to withstand the winter conditions. Aviary birds that have a shelter or extra indoor enclosure can also stay outside for a long time in the winter. Only in extreme weather conditions will these animals have to stay indoors or will a part of the outdoor enclosure have to be temporarily covered with a tarp or piece of plastic. Fish can only hibernate in garden ponds ?? if the pond itself is deep enough. At least part of the pond should be about 80 centimeters or deeper. Keep a part of the surface of the pond ice-free in case of frost so that the fish get enough oxygen. You can help the birds in your garden during periods of severe frost and a lot of snow by feeding them. There are many different foods available for these feathered friends at your pet store. Finally: leave sleeping hedgehogs in your garden alone. However, if you come across a awake hedgehog in the snow, it is not healthy and help is needed. However, keep in mind that these animals are protected and you are not allowed to take them into your home. In such cases, therefore, contact the hedgehog sanctuary.