Caring for your pets this winter

Dreaming of a white Christmas? Don’t forget that with the colder weather setting in, our animals will require additional care to keep them warm and safe.

Snow/ice

Snowy and icy pavements can lead to sore paws, especially if the ground has been salted to defrost. To keep your pets comfortable clip away excess hair, wash paws with tepid water, dry thoroughly and apply Vaseline. Icy paths are slippery for our pets too, especially if they are elderly or arthritic. Slips and falls can lead to nasty injuries, including cuts from sharp ice. So take extra care on those walks!

Cats may not wish to go outside to do their business and may develop constipation and cystitis. Providing a litter tray can prevent this. Those that continue to go out and about may search for warm places to hide such as under and inside cars. It is advisable to be extra vigilant when setting out in the car.

Sub-zero temperatures and wet weather can put animals at risk of hypothermia. If your pet gets cold and wet, dry them off thoroughly and warm them gradually. Elderly or slim dogs may benefit from coats. Keep dogs on leads when walking near water and be wary of ponds that could be frozen over. Antifreeze tastes sweet to cats and dogs. It is highly toxic and should be kept safely out of harms way. If you suspect that your pet has consumed antifreeze contact a vet immediately.

Don’t forget about rabbits and guinea pigs. Provide additional bedding for pets in hutches and part cover the hutch with old carpet to insulate. Placing hutches in garages can put pets at risk from car exhaust fumes and should be avoided.

Farm animals and horses may need additional food to compensate for the energy expended in keeping warm. Ensure fresh water is provided and is not frozen! Young animals may need additional care to keep warm and dry.

Christmas can be a stressful time for our pets. With changes to their routine and decorations springing up all over the home it is important to consider the safety and happiness of our pets throughout the festive season. Has your pet met all of the family members and friends that you are inviting to your house during the Christmas period? If not, your pet may be a little shy, nervous or apprehensive when meeting people for the first time. Ensure your pet is always supervised around young children especially when they are play with noisy or mobile toys.

Christmas trees and decorations

• Real Christmas trees will shed their needles over time. These needles are hard and sharp and can easily get stuck into your pet’s paws or throat.

• Holly, mistletoe and yew are poisonous to pets so make sure they are well out of reach.
• Baubles, tinsel and other decorations hanging from your Christmas tree can prove irresistible to cats.

Try to make your decorations pet-friendly by using shatter proof baubles, avoiding anything too small and making sure your tree is well anchored so that it doesn’t fall over. It is also advisable not to hang chocolate from your Christmas tree, as this will be an added temptation for your pet. Human chocolate is potentially life threatening for your pet. It contains a substance called theobromine, which is toxic to dogs and cats. If you suspect your pet has eaten chocolate, please contact the vet immediately.

Festive Feast

We all like to indulge over Christmas, and our pets are no different. With many tempting smells and opportunities for mischief it is important to keep certain foods well out of reach of pesky paws!

Prevent pet panic…

Remember balloons, Christmas crackers, poppers and champagne bottles all go off with loud bangs. Fireworks over the festive period can also cause stress and panic in our pets. There are many techniques and products available to help our pets conquer their noise phobias. Please contact us if you would like further information.