Winter is coming: caring for your pet this winter

Posted on 22 April, 2020

While Canberra is bracing for a winter spent indoors, our pets might be looking at a different story.

The RSPCA ACT has released tips for caring for your fur baby in winter–and while some might seem common sense, some may surprise you.

Keep your animals inside as much as possible

While you’ll still have to take your dogs for walks and your cat might not be too impressed, keeping them inside especially during the coldest parts of the day is ideal.

Make sure to dry your pet when they come in from outside

You wouldn’t want to sit in a wet coat and neither does your best friend!

If your pet is unable to stay inside, make sure they have access to winter-proof shelter

Ensure it is raised off the ground to keep it from getting wet and frosty, and place it in a location where it’s the most likely to get maximum sun exposure.

Don’t let them get too toasty

Cats are notorious for finding toasty warm spots around the house like the afternoon sun through a window or sitting close to the heater.

Be wary of your pet sitting too close to heaters or fires as they can fall asleep and end up with dry skin or burns.

Grab your pet a jacket!

Not only is it super cute, it’s super practical. Neighbourhood dogs will be so jealous of your dog’s stylish new look when going for walks.

This is especially important if you have thin, older of short haired breeds. Make sure it is the right fit and avoid having the jacket too tight.

It’s extremely important to take the jacket off once they are back in a heated environment as it can irritate the animal and cause injury.

Check your pet has fresh water in the morning

Make sure your pets’ water hasn’t frozen over during the night, provide them with new water to drink during the day.

Let’s not forget one of the best ways to keep warm this winter is to snuggle up and stay together

With many families currently isolating, our pets will have endless opportunity to cuddle with us to make sure we both stay warm.

See rspca-act.org.au for more information.