5 Tips to Keep Your Furry Friends Healthy in the Winter

Cold and flu season urges us humans to prepare ourselves as best we can to stay healthy, and the same should go for our furry friends. Keep in mind, dogs do not get sick the same way we humans do, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be on top of things to keep our pets healthy and happy.

Start this cold and flu season off the right way by taking into account our five favorite tips below.

1. Limit the amount of time you allow your dog to go outside.

We understand that this may be difficult, especially if you have an active pup on your hands, but trust us when we say, it’s worth keeping your dog healthy.

Look at it this way: If it’s too cold for you to be outside for a long period, it’s too cold for your dog to be out for an extended period.

If your dog has to be outside for a lengthy period, be sure to provide them with warm and dry shelter, such as a dog pen. This pen should block any wind or cold conditions from seeping through the walls.

Though this is a suggestion, it’s not recommended; keep your dog inside as much as possible through the cold months!

2. Give your dog enough water.

The outside air and the inside air are both extremely dry during the winter months. This means that dogs are likely to get dehydrated quicker. Be sure to give your dog enough water throughout the day to keep them healthy. Keep in mind, this may mean you’ll have to bring him or her outside to go to the bathroom a little bit more when the cold weather is upon us.

3. Make sure your dog is staying active.

Though we told you to limit your dogs time outdoors, that doesn’t mean he or she can’t stay active inside the house (or outside the home, but for a limited amount of time).

Try going for a short walk in the morning or the afternoon, when it’s not so chilly out. If you have enough space indoors, throw a ball around and play some tug of war. If there’s a lot of space, run around the room with him or her.

4. Try to keep your dog away from other sick dogs.

Dogs don’t come into contact with other dogs as often as humans come into contact with other humans; however, if you have more than one dog living in your home, and one of the two is sick, try your best to keep them away from each other until the sick pup is healthy again.

5. Always be mindful of their paws during the winter season.

The winter months bring on a bunch of unnecessary elements that can get stuck in your dog’s paws, therefore creating issues soon after that. Always inspect your dog’s paws after going outside for salt buildup, ice chips, or any toxic materials that could have been spread on the roads or grass. The best way to keep up with paw health is to wipe down your dog’s paws every time they go outside.

More Articles