Winter tips for dogs and cats

Even during the cold winter months, your dog or cat should still be able to go outside. Pay close attention to the weather, however. They need extra care, especially in snow and freezing conditions. Here are some useful tips:

Dogs.

Dogs' paws have a hard time in winter. Especially when the temperature drops below freezing, your four-legged friend needs extra protection. Below are some handy winter tips.

• Skin and coat problems. In winter, dogs can suffer from skin and coat issues due to temperature, humidity, a coat that is too thin, less daylight, and central heating. BF® sheep fat bonbons, BF® Omega+ liquid sheep fat, or BF® Omega+ Scottish salmon oil provide extra support for skin and coat problems.
• Paws. Dogs with long hair between their toes easily get ice balls. Trim the hair between the paws to prevent this. Apply Vaseline or a special spray for extra protection before going for a walk.
• Road salt. Road salt is bad for dog paws. Protect the paw pads with Vaseline or special tar (available from the vet) to prevent small wounds and to toughen the pads. Rinse the paws with lukewarm water upon returning home and dry them thoroughly.
• Coat. Rinse the coat with lukewarm water. Snow can cause ice clumps to form in the coat. Let them melt in your hands or rinse them away with lukewarm water. After swimming: keep your dog moving and dry them off well to prevent cooling down.
• Ice. Do not let dogs go onto frozen water. They cannot judge for themselves if the ice is safe. Moreover, slipping is a risk, which can cause serious injuries.
• Eating snow. Dogs enjoy playing with snow, but do not let them eat it. Snow can cause stomach upset.
• Watch out for antifreeze. Keep dogs away from antifreeze products and clean up any spilled patches immediately! Even a small amount can be fatal.
• Exercise. During a winter walk, your dog needs to keep moving well to avoid cooling down too much. Do not leave them outside alone if it is freezing. Dogs that are usually indoors need time to get used to the cold. They build up a thicker winter coat slowly, and their paw pads need time to harden against frost.
• Sensitive. Short-haired breeds (such as Greyhounds, Dobermans, Boxers, Boston Terriers) should not go out without a coat in severe cold, except for a quick bathroom break. Small short-haired dogs (such as Chihuahuas, Miniature Pinschers, Dachshunds) are extra sensitive and are better off staying inside or going out for only a short time in extreme cold.
• Nutrition. Many dogs are less active in winter and burn fewer calories. Active outdoor dogs, on the other hand, need sufficient or extra nutrition, such as BF® sheep fat bonbons, to get through the winter well.
• Be careful with sticks. Sticks are risky, especially in winter when they are hard and slippery. If your dog plays with them incorrectly, it can cause serious injury. A safe BF® rawhide chew is better for playing, running, and chewing fun.
• Fleas. Fleas can become active in the house during winter. Eggs from the summer survive for months and hatch due to heat and humidity. So, pay extra attention! Treat your dog with BF® garlic tablets, BF® sheep fat bonbons with garlic, or BF® 3-in-1 Garlic & Herb biscuits to make them less attractive to fleas.
• Water bowl. Refresh the water bowl regularly. A dash of honey helps prevent the water from freezing.

Cats.

Cats usually do not like the cold and prefer to lie by the heater. Outside, they creatively look for warm spots, such as in the neighbors' shed or under the hood of a car. Here are some winter tips:

• Cat flap. Make sure there is a cat flap so the cat can get inside and does not have to spend the night elsewhere.
• Check the car. In winter, always check under the car before starting it to see if a cat is there. If necessary, tap on the hood. Cats find a warm engine block very attractive to lie under.
• Litter box. Cats are more inclined to stay inside longer in cold weather. As a result, the trip outside to do their business is postponed. If cats hold their urine for too long, this can cause problems, for example, bladder stones. It is therefore important to provide the cat with a comfortable and clean litter box and place it in a quiet location. (It is advised to place at least two litter boxes for one cat. For every additional cat, add one more litter box).
• Coat. When the coat gets wet, the hairs flatten against the body and the air between them (the insulating layer) disappears. The cold outside air now comes into direct contact with the warm skin, which then cools down. Natural resistance decreases as a result of the temperature drop. Try to prevent the cat from going out in "nasty weather," and if they do slip out, dry them off as quickly as possible (stroke with the grain of the hair) and let the cat warm up nicely. If your cat develops skin and coat problems or if you want to prevent this, due to temperature differences, humidity, and central heating, BF® Scottish salmon oil with healthy omega 3 and 6 fatty acids provides extra support.
• Paws. Can't keep your cat inside, even when it's freezing? Keep in mind that road salt can irritate their calloused pads. To prevent irritation of the paw pads, you can optionally rub their foot pads with Vaseline.

For more information, email: info@bfpetfood.nl or use the contact page.