Stephanie Taunton, a certified dog trainer, shares safety tips to protect your friend and ensure they are safe when winter comes knocking.

1. Keep Your Pets Warm This
Winter - Safety Tips

2. Let’s Start
It’s freezing outside and it’s set to
bring colder temperature, with fogs,
frost, snow and hails. Maybe you are
already prepared, what about your
four-legged babies? Keeping your pet
safe and warm is a must even if they
are fur-coated. These creatures are
prone to winter health risks just as
you are. Stephanie Taunton, a
certified dog trainer, shares safety
tips to protect your friend and
ensure they are safe when winter
comes knocking.

3. Keep Them Warm While Outside
• Either you have outdoor pets or some in the
neighbourhood, don’t forget to keep their
house warm.
• Ensure the shelter is raised above the floor to
prevent dampness or wetness.
• ‘A dry room, safe from rain, wind and any
other elements is recommended’ says
Stephanie Taunton
• Cover beddings with cedar shavings or straw
to provide maximum heat.
• Keep the seniors and young pets inside as they
are more liable to hypothermia or frostbite.
• Feed them often and change their water
regularly when it is cold.

4. Ensure Healthy Diets for Your Pet
• Feed your dog nutritious meal during winter
to increase their calories level
• A healthy diet will keep their fur healthy and
let them stay warm.
• The weather is already cold to feed them
cold food. Ensure the food is warm before
giving them.
• Don’t overfeed them while at it as dogs tend
to be involved in less exercise during winter
and this can lead to excess weight gain
• Fat in diet is essential to keep them warm.
However, watch out for their activities and
know when to reduce it. Excess fats might
have a long term effect.
• Let them drink room temperature water
during this season

5. Reduce the Walk Time
• It’s safe to reduce the number of times your dog stays
outside and shorten their walk time.
• No pets no matter how fur-coated it is should spend
hours outside, they are all liable to health risk.
• Know your dog and read their behavior. Young dogs
cannot even withstand the weather, thus they
shouldn’t be taken to snowy areas.
• If you are covered up while outside, do the same for
your pet. Dressed them up in sweaters or coats with
pet’s boots to go with it.
• Examine your pets after walks for any signs of injuries
or cracks. The fur, the paws, and the pads might have
picked up harmful substances. Wipe them with towels
after walks.
• Never leave your pet unattended while outside. De-
icing salts, sidewalks-chemical, and anti-freeze
especially might be tasteful to your pet but they are
dangerous.

6. Bundle Up Your Pets
• It’s cold outside and no one wants to
stay outdoors including your pet. Keep
them with you in the room.
• Keep the bedding dry and warm. A
woollen blanket and bed will provide
some cosiness and warmth.
• Watch out their behaviour, sometimes,
they might prefer a cooler place if the
room temperature is warm. Just a
cloth might be all that is needed.
• Notice your puppies burrowed in a
corner in for warmth? Consider
wearing coats or sweaters for them
even while indoors. They are still
young and they require more warmth.