Taking good care of your pets is very important, especially during winters. The senior and aged pets can often get arthritis or degenerative joint disease (DJD), and it gets worsened by the cold weather.
Arthritis tends to affect the joints by making them stiff and painful when the pets move. It mostly affects dogs as it can take a toll on any joint or even the spine.
One of the best ways of combatting the effect of arthritis in dogs and arthritis in cats is by involving them in a lot of movement. You can get them to indulge in activities that help the joints fight against stiffness as it will reduce the pain.
Why winters are a double whammy to you and your pets?
While you will sometimes ask “can dogs go out in cold weather?” The answer is yes, but their joints might stiffen up and they might be less prone to movement if proper care isn’t taken. It becomes increasingly hard for both you and your pet as the cold makes you feel less inclined to go out and get your pets involved in physical activities because you yourself might want to stay in your bed feeling all warm and cosy. But you will need to fight your own unwillingness and get out and walk your pets at least twice a day as it will make you and your pet feel more active. This movement will help your pets maintain a good muscle tone which tends to be crucial for combatting arthritis. The less you push your pets to do, the more you let them give in to stiffness and pain.
What are the preventive measures that you can take to keep your pets protected from cold during winters?
Here are some measures that you can take to protect your dog from the chilling winter:
- Towel dry your dog right after walks.
You should make sure that you don’t forget to dry your dogs after walking, especially in between their toes. - Wipe their paws after going outside.
Products used as de-icers on sidewalks and other areas can be really harmful to dogs so you should wipe their paws and try to keep them warm. - Reduce the haircuts
Giving your dog a haircut will make them look cleaner but it will also remove the waterproof layer on top of their fur. It will them take a lot of time for your dog to get that waterproof layer back again. This is why it is advisable to provide your dog with a waterproof jacket if your pet dog indeed gets a haircut.
- Indulge in more play time indoors
If the temperature gets really cold, it is suggested that you spend more time indoors and have your dog participate in fun activities inside the house.
Here are some measures that you can take to protect your cat from the chilling winter:
- Keeping the cat indoors
In case, the temperature plummets, it would be perfect to keep your cat indoors, especially at night.
- Provide them with a litter tray
If you are keeping your cat’s routine the same, there will be times during the winter months when neither you nor your cat will want to go outside. For such times, you can provide them with a litter tray for making sure your cats don’t hold their bladders and cause any urinal issues.
- Check the warm appliances
Cats do like to curl up in warm places so you should make sure to check your tumble dryers, washing machines, and cars before you turn them on.
- Always keep the antifreeze out of reach
Even though it tastes sweet and is tempting for the cats to drink but it is really poisonous so keep it out of the reach of cats.
Village Vets: Get the best protection for pets during the winter
Here, at Village Vets, we look to provide the best possible protection to every pet, especially the ones suffering from arthritis. You can sign up for our Pet Health Plan and get an unlimited number of vet visits. You can also earn the chance to win a year’s supply of tasty pet food.
If you have a pet that is struggling with arthritis, you can contact us on our website and book an appointment and we will make sure to admit your pet to our clinic and give them intensive care.
Enjoy winter and stay safe Xxx
