Winter tips for dogs and cats

Even during the cold winter months, your dog or cat should be able to go outside. Pay close attention to the weather. They need extra care, especially in snow and frost. Here are some helpful tips:

Dogs.
Dogs' paws take a beating in winter. Especially when temperatures drop below zero, your four-legged friend needs extra protection. Below are some helpful winter tips.

• Skin and coat problems. In winter, dogs can suffer from skin and coat problems due to the temperature, humidity, a thin winter coat, less daylight, and central heating. BF® sheep fat bonbons, BF® Omega+ liquid sheep fat, or BF® Omega+ Scottish salmon oil provide additional support for skin and coat problems.
• Paws. Dogs with long hair between their toes are prone to ice balls. Trim the hair between their paws a bit shorter to prevent this. Then, apply Vaseline or a special spray for extra protection before going for a walk.
• Road salt. Road salt is bad for dogs' paws. Protect the soles of their feet with Vaseline or special tar (available from your vet) to prevent wounds and strengthen the pads. When you get home, rinse the paws with lukewarm water and dry them thoroughly.
• Coat. Rinse the coat with lukewarm water. Snow can cause ice clumps to form in the coat. Let them melt in your hands or rinse them away with lukewarm water. After swimming: keep your dog active and dry him thoroughly to prevent cooling.
• Ice. Don't let dogs out on frozen water. They can't judge the safety of the ice themselves. Moreover, slipping is a risk, which can cause serious injuries.
• Eating snow. Dogs love playing with snow, but don't let them take bites of it. Snow can cause stomach upset.
• Be careful with antifreeze. Keep dogs away from antifreeze and clean up spills immediately! Even a small amount can be fatal.
• Exercise. During a winter walk, your dog needs to stay active to avoid getting cold. Don't leave him outside alone in freezing temperatures. Dogs normally kept indoors need to adjust to the cold. They gradually develop a thicker winter coat, and their paw pads need time to harden against frost.
• Sensitive. Short-haired breeds (such as Greyhounds, Dobermans, Boxers, and Boston Terriers) should not be left outside without a coat in severe cold, except for a quick pee. Small short-haired dogs (such as Chihuahuas, Pinschers, and Dachshunds) are particularly sensitive and are better off staying indoors or going outside briefly in extreme cold.
• Nutrition. Many dogs are less active in winter and burn fewer calories. Active outdoor dogs need sufficient or additional nutrition, such as BF® sheep fat bonbons, to get through the winter well.
• Be careful with sticks. Sticks are risky, especially in winter when they're hard and slippery. If your dog plays with them incorrectly, it can cause serious injury. Instead, choose a safe BF® rawhide chew for playing, running, and chewing fun.
• Fleas. Fleas can become active indoors during the winter. Summer eggs survive for months and hatch in warmth and humidity. So be extra vigilant! Treat your dog with BF® garlic tablets, BF® sheep fat treats with garlic, or BF® 3-in-1 Garlic & Herb biscuits to make them less attractive to fleas.
• Drinking trough. Refresh the drinking trough regularly. A dash of honey helps prevent the water from freezing.

Cats.
Cats generally don't like the cold and prefer to lie by the heater. Outside, they creatively search for warm spots, such as in the neighbor's shed or under the hood of their car. Here are some winter tips:

• Cat flap. Make sure there's a cat flap so the cat can come inside and doesn't have to spend the night elsewhere.
• Check the car. In winter, before starting the car, always check underneath to make sure there's no cat. If necessary, give the hood a tap. Cats find a warm engine block very tempting to lie under.
• Litter box. Cats are more likely to stay indoors longer in cold weather. This means they postpone going out to the bathroom. If cats hold their urine for too long, this can cause problems, such as bladder stones. It's therefore important to provide your cat with a comfortable and clean litter box, and to place it in a quiet location. (It's recommended to provide at least two litter boxes for one cat. One additional litter box for each additional cat.)
• Coat. When the coat gets wet, the hairs lie against the body, and the air between them (the insulating layer) disappears. The cold outside air now comes into direct contact with the warm skin, which cools down. Natural resistance is then reduced due to the drop in temperature. Try to prevent the cat from walking in "dog weather," and if it does slip away, dry the hair as quickly as possible (brush in the direction of the hair) and allow the cat to warm up. If your cat develops skin and coat problems, or if you want to prevent this due to temperature fluctuations, humidity, and central heating, BF® Scottish Salmon Oil with healthy omega 3 and 6 fatty acids will provide additional support.
• Paws. Is your cat unable to stay indoors even in freezing temperatures? Keep in mind that road salt can damage their calluses. To prevent irritation to the pads, you can rub Vaseline on their paws.

For more information, email info@bfpetfood.nl or use the contact page.