Pet Winter Skin Care: 8 Tips To Protect Them From Cold

  Posted on January 10, 2022  by Joy of Living  No comments

Winter wreaks havoc on our hair and skin, causing dryness and the dreaded static electricity. We aren’t alone in needing to take special care of our hair and skin in winter, our pets have special needs too.

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Here are some pet winter skin care tips to help pets look and feel their best during cold weather season:

• The air inside can become quite dry, depleting moisture from pet’s skin and hair, causing dander to increase. To improve your pets skin and coat, brush them regularly and vigorously. I have brushes with flexible rubber tips that gives a massage while removing loose hair. My cat and dogs all love it!
• Give your pet fatty acid supplements to help skin and coat.
• When grooming your dog in the winter, be sure not to cut your dog’s coat too short.  The longer coat provides extra warmth.
• Wipe your pet’s paws after they’ve been outside.  Not only does it minimize the mess from wet paws, but it also prevents any additional damage to them from the cold.
• Putting a sweater or coat on a small or senior pet isn’t just a fashion statement. Small and senior dogs are more impacted by the cold. Put a sweater or jacket on them before going outside.  Limit the time outside to 5-10 minutes.
• For dogs engaged in many winter outdoor activities, increase their food supply to help keep their coat thick and healthy.
• For dog breeds equipped for extreme cold (Huskies, for example), in subzero temperatures ensure your dog has appropriate insulated outdoor shelter.  Include a door to protect against wind. snsure it’s just large enough to accommodate your pet. Line the dog house with plenty of straw, it’s much more absorbent and warm than blankets that can get wet and freeze.
• When bathing your dog in winter, be sure to dry him thoroughly before heading out for a walk. Invest in a pet hair dryer to make to speed the process.

Keeping these pet winter skin care points in mind won’t make winter go away, but will help them more comfortable until spring.