Winter warmers

I’m noticing how much darker and cooler my morning walks with Shiva-the-kelpie have been lately. Winter is well and truly on its way, so I thought I’d share some tips for keeping your pooch healthy, safe and warm this winter.

1. If your dog is elderly, short-haired, or spends a lot of time outside in wintery weather, you should consider a coat for your dog. The team at Snooty Paws have a great new range of dog coats, jumpers and jackets including the very stylish and practical Driza-bone flannelette lined dog coats.
2. Wherever your dog sleeps, whether it be inside or outside, it is important that their bedding is raised off the ground. Laundry tiles can be freezing in winter! Some thick soft blankets will provide something for your dog to snuggle down into. Check the bed regularly to make sure the bedding is dry and in good condition.
3. Shiva and I love our morning walks, but to make sure that we’re both visible to cars and other early-morning walkers in the dark we have a Nite Ize SpotLit LED light attached to our lead. They’re light-weight, super-bright and easy to clip on to a lead or collar. Nite Ize also make a number of other doggy products including LED collars and leashes. Gogogear is an Australian supplier of Nite Ize products.
4. Just like their owners, dogs can have a tendency to store a little extra weight during the winter months. Regular exercise is important all year round. There’s nothing more invigorating than a brisk walk on a frosting morning!
5. To provide a little extra warmth in your dog’s bed, consider the SnuggleSafe Microwave Pet Head Pad. They provide up to 12 hours of warmth and are a safer option than hot water bottles or electric blankets.  The tough outer casing is bite resistant and hygienically wipe clean.

Our favourite vet, Dr Matt from Small Friends Veterinary Hospital has a great information sheet on his website which has some more tips for making winter easier on your small friend.