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Winter is a beautiful time of year but along with festive celebrations, it also comes with ice, extreme temperatures and noisy celebrations that can pose hidden dangers to your dog. So, to help keep your four legged family member safe this season, our pet experts run though a few dangers to keep an eye out for.
Just like on the roads, ice can be a hidden danger on walkways and paths. When out walking your dog this winter, take extra care on all surfaces to ensure you and your four legged family member don’t slip and fall. This is particularly important if your dog is old so, if it’s particularly icy, a potter around the garden is fine instead of risking a slippery walk. Grit or salt can be toxic to pets so try to avoid spreading it on your paths and make sure to clean their paws after they have been out so they don’t get sick from licking their paws.
When you’re outside on a cold winter’s day, you make sure to wrap up nice and warm with a thick coat and, during winter, this is no different for your short-haired dog, especially if they are old or a puppy. So, when you’re heading out and about together, pop a coat on your four legged friend as well to keep them happy and cosy on cold walks too. If they will be running around and plating a lot, there’s no need for the coat as they’ll soon warm up from all the exercise.
As with anytime of the year, keep an eye on what your dog is eating when you’re out enjoying the crisp winter air. If you leave out wild bird food, ensure it’s kept out of reach of your pet’s hungry mouths as it can cause tummy upsets. Also, make sure your bin bags are stored in a safe place as rumbling tummies will soon seek out any food thrown away in your rubbish, such as cooked bones, which can make them poorly.
In winter, shorter days and less daylight means that if you dog or cat gets spooked and slips off the lead or runs away, it can be easy for them to get lost and harder for you to find them. So, to make sure you are traceable as their owner if they can’t make their own way home, make sure they have an identity chip or ID tag.
Another hidden danger of winter is frozen water. While we may know not to walk on ice as it’s likely to be thin, your four legged family member will likely see it as just another surface. So, if you see any frozen water put your pup on the lead to prevent the danger of them falling through. If your dog does fall through ice, do not go in after them but wait for the authorities. If you’re lucky enough to be walking your dog near the sea, be extra cautious about letting your dog off the lead as the sea can be extremely rough this time of year, even if it looks calm on the surface.
Nurturing by Nature are pet experts and we believe a raw diet is the best diet for your four legged family member, afterall, it's what they would be eating in the wild. To learn more about the benefits of feeding your pet raw food, please fell free to contact the friendly team today or start by browsing our large selection of natural, raw pet food.