How to keep your pet healthy this winter

During the winter months minimise your pet's exposure to the cold and either bring them into your home or provide a warm, dry area for them. Help your pet be the best they can this winter with these handy tips.

• During the winter months minimise your pet’s exposure to the cold and either bring them into your home, or provide a warm, dry area for them.
• For older pets in particular provide appropriate bedding that’s raised above the ground, off the cold floor.
• Providing your pet with a balanced and complete diet with the optimum calories, vitamins and minerals is essential for their health and wellbeing. You should also consider reducing their food intake if they are less active in winter.
• When it comes to keeping pets healthy over the winter months, many pets, particularly older dogs, require a little extra help in getting the key nutrients required for general health and to maintain a healthy immune system. Consider a daily multivitamin to boost the essential nutrients required during this time.
• PAW Active Pet Essential Vitamin & Mineral Chews are tasty chicken chews that you can provide as a daily treat. With over 25 key essential vitamins, minerals and amino acids they help to promote general health & vitality.
• Alternatively try PAW Multi+Tryptophan Chews to maintain positive, balanced health. These tasty chews contain the B group vitamins to maintain nervous function as well as key nutrients for a healthy immune system.
• Remember to always protect against fleas, ticks and heart worm whatever the weather.

During winter it is also really important to maintain a regular grooming regime to avoid smelly odours, itchy sore skin and even more serious skin conditions:

 

• If you wash your pet, try and wash them in the morning on colder days so their coat can dry during the day, remembering towel drying and brushing the coat speeds this up.
• If you need to clip your dog’s coat, then choose a longer clip rather than no clip.
• It’s common for pets to develop dry skin and dandruff during winter due to the drying effects and low humidity of heaters in your home, so make sure you use a conditioner or conditioning spray to moisturise and nurture your pet’s coat and skin during the winter months.
• Brush or comb your pet’s coat daily to help keep them clean. You might also consider using a grooming mist, an omega oil supplement such as PAW Dermega® Omega 3 & 6 Oral Supplement or a weekly essential fatty acid topical spot‐on such as Essential 6® skin care, that will help to keep your pet’s coat soft, shiny and smelling fresh this winter.
• Use a sulphate free shampoo developed for pets. This will provide a mild and gentle clean that won’t irritate or strip the natural oils. This is particularly important if your pet’s breed is pre‐disposed to skin sensitivities such as terriers and retrievers.

Following these simple steps helps to promote your pet’s health and vitality, keeping them happy and comfortable throughout the winter months – whatever the weather brings!