Owning a pet means that you are responsible for keeping it happy and healthy, and providing everything it needs to stay warm and cosy, especially in the harsh, winter months. From large animals like horses, to dogs and cats, and even our smaller furry friends – they all need our help to stay comfortable when the winter sets in. Here are a few tips on how to keep your pets warm during winter.
Horses
Because horses are mostly kept outdoors in their field or in a stable, they need help protecting themselves from the elements. In the winter, it is important that you invest in warm stable rugs, as well as turnout rugs to help keep your horse as comfortable as possible.
Stable rugs help to keep your horse warm when they are stabled and when they can’t exercise to generate their own heat. Turnout rugs are heavy-weight rugs that help to keep your horse warm, clean, and dry when they are in the field in the cold winter months. Make sure that your turnout rug is waterproof – because your horse’s coat acts as insulation, if it gets wet, they are not able to keep warm and they will begin to shiver. Making sure that your horse has shelter from the elements in their field is important too, as the cold wind can bring a horse’s body temperature to a low level.
Dogs
Even though our pets have a lovely layer of fur, that doesn’t mean they don’t suffer from the cold in the winter months – they’re just like us! Our dogs are our most loved companions and truly are part of the family. It is important that we help to keep our furry friends warm in the cold months, as domesticated dogs are not made to stay in cold temperatures for long periods of time. You can get your dog a coat to provide them with an extra layer of warmth, you can also make sure that their bedding has lots of warm and cosy blankets. Keep your dog’s walks a little shorter in the winter and prioritise more indoor play.
Cats
Cats are known for being independent and are used to being outside no matter the weather! Sometimes when it’s cold, you’ll find that your cat is more than happy to stay inside, sheltered and cosy – if you find that this is the case, you must do is make sure they have a designated area for litter. If your cat does go outside when it’s cold, there’s no need to worry, just make sure that they know there is a warm shelter in your garage, shed, or garden so that they don’t go looking for warmth elsewhere, as this can be dangerous.
Small animals
Even though they are small, we can’t forget our rabbits and guinea pigs that live outside in all weathers. If your small furry friends can’t be moved inside during the colder months, there are a few things that you can do to help them keep warm such as providing them with extra bedding or covering hutches and pens with waterproof material to give them a bit of shelter from the harsh conditions. Covering a hutch with a blanket can also help to add some well-needed insulation.
Article by Born Realist