How to keep pets warm this winter

Virgin Radio

14 Dec 2022, 16:58

As temperatures plummet across the country, many pet owners are worried about keeping our four-legged friends warm and cosy.

Whether you have a cat, dog, guinea pig, rabbit, or something more exotic; keeping them safe and dry is a top priority.

Janine Pemberthy is a canine behaviourist and training manager at Battersea.

She says: "With the weather becoming much colder, it’s important that we do what we can for our pets to protect them against the chill this winter."

Claire Stallard is an animal behaviourist at Blue Cross.

She told Metro: "Most healthy dogs won’t struggle inside without heating on, but for older dogs (especially the ones with joint problems) and dogs with thin coats, then a coat or jumper may be a good idea – one that is comfortable to rest in too (no big buckles that might dig in). Blankets and duvets to snuggle up in will help, too.

"Healthy cats are great at regulating their temperature usually, but you can also get microwavable pet-safe heat pads, such as SnuggleSafe, which are a good idea as they stay warm for hours."

The RSPCA also says to make sure cats have access to a warm indoor area.

It can be tempting to buy the cutest coat for your dog, but it is important to make sure it is practical, too.

Making sure they can walk and toilet properly in it is of utmost importance.

Be sure to dry your pets off when they come in from the rain or snow too.

Grit used to de-ice roads and pavements can make delicate paws sore, so it is also recommended to wash their feet and dry thoroughly.

Battersea also recommends checking for frostbite.

The temperature of your house should also not drop below 10 °C.

It's not just dogs and cats we need to think of, too.

Claire says: "Smaller pets can be bought inside but the contrast in temperature can be dangerous, so it is better to provide them with loads of bedding/pet-safe heat pads or move into an outbuilding like a shed or unused garage, rather than bringing them inside the house.

‘"Rabbits are usually fine with a few moderations if they’ve had time to grow their winter coats. Guinea pigs less so, but with care, they can be kept outside.

"Hutches should be protected so wind, rain, snow or sleet can’t blow in. You can use weatherproof tarp or a robust waterproof cover to put over the hutch but make sure there’s still ventilation for your pets. They will also need a lot of extra bedding to keep them warm.

"Cardboard is very insulating so make a good liner for hutches in the winter months. Add newspaper and then plenty of soft straw for them to snuggle and tunnel in.’