Winter Care For First-Time Pet Parents: Everything You Should Know

Is this the first time you’re spending the winter with your new pet? In that case, you might be worried about their safety as the temperature drops. Technically, your pet won’t be at risk if you limit their outside time when it’s super cold, especially below 45°F.

While some breeds are tolerant of low temperatures, most cats and dogs can develop frostbite if left outside for long periods of time. Other than this, there are a lot of things you should know when living with a pet during the colder months.

In this blog, we will discuss cold weather tips, behavioral changes in your pooch due to the cold, and more.

Can Your Pet Get a Cold?

Yes, dogs and cats catch colds. Symptoms include mucus discharges through their tiny nose, labored breathing due to lung congestion, and continuous sneezing. If your pet has a cold, you’ll also see they’ve developed watery eyes and fatigue. Ideally, these symptoms will last between five and ten days.

To ease your pet’s discomfort, let them rest, sleep, and drink plenty of lukewarm water. You should also keep wiping off the discharge from their nose and turn on a humidifier for some warm air. If the symptoms persist even after a week, take them to a vet.

However, being cold isn’t necessarily an indication of hypothermia. Usually, in hypothermia, your pet’s body temperature drastically drops, and they are at risk of heart attacks and blood flow issues. Symptoms of hypothermia include continuous shivering, confusion, clumsiness, pale gums, and loss of consciousness.

How Do You Prevent This?

New pet owners are unsure about the best ways to stop their pets from catching a cold. Technically, you should give your beloved pet tasty treats filled with nutrition to boost their immunity. Moreover, you should clean their chew toys and bowls every other day.

Other than that, the best way to deal with this is to keep your pets updated with vaccinations and other medications. For instance, you should regularly take them to the vet and ensure that you buy the prescribed medications at your local pet store. While these cannot completely save your pet from catching colds, they can surely reduce the severity.

But what if you don’t want to go out during the winter to buy medications or other winter supplies for your dog or cat? That’s where a pet subscription box comes into the picture.

According to PetCareRx, such subscriptions can offer pet parents incredible discounts on food, medication, toys, clothes, etc. With this, you can enjoy free shipping and doorstep delivery of pet products during the winter.

In general, the growing price of pet products can significantly limit your options. That’s why such discount pet subscriptions can come in handy to get a continuous supply of necessary pet products. These will help you keep your furry friend healthy during the winter. It also gives you access to 24/7 vet care in the comfort of your home and offers a flexible schedule.

Pets Develop Behavioral Changes During The Winter

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is common in humans. If someone experiences SAD, they feel low energy and are extremely moody during the winter months. However, their symptoms disappear once the weather starts getting warmer.

Technically, this happens due to reduced exposure to sunlight. As a result, a human’s brain chemistry alters, increasing melatonin production and decreasing serotonin. That’s why some people have a cranky mood during the colder months.

But did you know that the same can happen to your dog or cat? For example, dogs might bark more frequently, become aggressive, less playful, and increase shedding. Similarly, cats have SAD symptoms like easy irritability, lethargy, and overgrooming. Your pet might have a decrease in playfulness and a reduced appetite during the winter.

To treat this, keep your home well-lit and let your pets play inside. You can also give them nutrition supplements after consulting a vet. Moreover, you should increase spending time with your pet by playing games indoors, watching pet-friendly movies, baking all natural treats, etc.

6 Cold Weather Tips for Pet Parents

Your furry friend can get frosty and develop hypothermia if exposed to the cold weather for prolonged periods. If that happens, the tissues in their little noses, tails, paws, and ears can become damaged. Usually, this is common in smaller cat breeds, kittens, puppies, and adult dogs.

That’s why you must protect your furball from harming their health during the colder months. Keep these safety measures in mind during the winter:

1. Limit playtime to at least 30 minutes to 1 hour a day.
2. Dress them in warm pet clothes before letting them play outside.
3. Use a warm cloth to wipe down their paws when they get inside.
4. Get heated and insulated pet mats, pet doors, blankets, etc.
5. Avoid shaving your pet’s fur during the colder months.
6. Keep them hydrated, but don’t overfeed them.

Moreover, you should look out for symptoms of hypothermia and frostbite. These include continuous shivering, slow movement, and anxious reactions to everything. When you see these signs, immediately rush your furball to a veterinarian.

In summary, first-time pet parents should understand the importance of taking care of their pets during the winter. Some pets might develop a cold and require extra care. Therefore, you must follow the cold weather tips shared in this blog.

Even though a cold is rarely life-threatening to a pet, it can surely affect their immune system. That’s why you should buy a monthly subscription box that can come with all the winter necessities for your pet.