4 pearls of winter wisdom for pet owners
Pets are like humans in that they prefer comfort to discomfort. Which means that during the cold part of the year, they seek out warmth, which means they stay indoors more of the time.
On the theme of winter wisdom, I had a chat the other day to Aaron Waters, country manager for the PETstock store chain. We talked about some of the concerns that winter throws up for any pet owner, and some myths to do with winter.
For example, he says it's a myth that pets don't get fleas in winter. "You might not see them, but they're still there. It's important that you keep treating your pets right through winter so it doesn't become a problem."
He had some solid suggestions relating to winter for any pet owner:
1. Don't skimp on water for your pets - they still need to be hydrated even if it's not hot.
2. Keep your pet at a healthy weight during winter - exercise your dog and keep all your pets on a high-quality diet.
3. If your pet comes in wet from the rain, help dry it off. It's no good for its health to lie around with wet fur.
4. Keep an eye out for behaviour changes that you might otherwise put down to it being winter. It's a myth, he says, that cats sleep more in winter; if your cat is sleeping noticeably longer, get a vet check because the cat may be unwell or struggling to keep itself warm. And if your pet is moving around slowly on cold mornings, then have a vet check it for arthritis. Aaron says treatment needn't be costly - the pet might just need softer bedding and a joint supplement.
All of it is good pet-wisdom, because winter does bring some risks for pets and their human companions. However, winter also brings one of the all-time best pet experiences – peak snuggle time.
How do you five your pet extra love and care in winter? Let us know in the comments below.
Written by Nick Barnett, first appeared on Stuff.co.nz.
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