As a dog owner, you need to pay special attention towards its comfort during the winter season. As per veterinarians, the dogs are going through a lot of discomfort throughout the winter season. If you are having a senior dog, you need to be extra mindful about this. That’s because your senior dog has a weakened health and you need to ensure that you are providing appropriate assistance needed by it to refrain from hassle.
Unfortunately, your senior dog cannot speak and let you know about the pain they go through. Therefore, it is up to you to take necessary steps to provide the protection and care needed by your dog throughout winter.
The below mentioned tips can provide an excellent assistance for you to take care of the senior dog during winter season.
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Find a good coat for your dog
Some of the dog breeds are blessed with thick natural coats. However, that is not in a position to provide comfort that they need during the winter season. Therefore, you should purchase an appropriate coat for your dog to wear during the winter. A good coat should have the ability to cover the entire body from neck to end of the tail. If you are having a senior dog, you should understand that the natural coat is weak and it doesn’t have the ability to provide protection during the winter season. Due to this reason, you are strongly encouraged to think about purchasing a coat from the market. Then you will be able to see how your senior dog prefers to spend most of his time on the coat, as it can deliver a comfortable experience.
Take your dog out when it is shiny
When you see the sunshine, you need to take the dog outdoors. Perth based Veterinarian clinic Thepetpractice noted that this can help your dog to enjoy the sunshine and avoid the frustration associated with winter chill. Without just letting the dog go out, you can think about playing along with him outdoors. Then you will be able to encourage your dog to spend more time outdoors. Your senior dog will feel good with these visits.
Keep the dog hydrated at all times
Keeping the dog hydrated can be considered as one of the best methods available for you to protect it from winter chill. That’s because the dogs tend to get dehydrated quickly during the winter season. To make sure that your dog is hydrated at all times, you can think about placing a bowl of water. In addition, you need to encourage your dog to drink water more often as well.
Groom the dog
Your dog is in need of a well-groomed and a clean coat throughout the winter season. Therefore, it is up to you to provide that coat to your companion. If your dog is spending a lot of time outdoors, you must focus a lot on dog grooming. Whenever your dog takes a bath, you can groom him. Your dog would love the entire process of grooming as well.
Never overfeed your dog
You should never overfeed your dog during the winter season. It is true that your dogs need additional nutrition to stay healthy during the winter season. However, you need to make sure that you don’t overfeed your dog with fat. There is no specific diet that you should provide to your dog. That’s because you will need to take a look at the activities of your dog and control the calorie intake accordingly. If your dog is playing, you will have to increase the calorie intake. If not, you shouldn’t be thinking about overfeeding the dog.
Moisturize the dog
Cold and dry weather can create a negative impact on the delicate skin of your dog. Therefore, you need to think about moisturizing it. With proper miniaturization, you will be able to keep the dog away from a variety of health conditions. They include flaky and dry skin as well. You don’t need to go ahead with chemical moisturizers, which can create a negative impact on the health of your dog in the long run. Instead, you can stick to natural moisturizers. Coconut oil is considered as one of the best natural moisturizers available for you to try out.
Create a cozy bed
During the winter season, you will recognize that your dog prefers to spend a lot of time inside the bed. Therefore, you need to create a cozy bed, which can keep him warm. If your dog doesn’t have a cozy bed, you need to think about getting a one. That’s because your dog cannot sleep on the cold winter floor. You can easily use few blankets to create a warm and comfortable bed for the dog. Or else, you can think about spending your money to purchase heated pet beds from the market.
Reduce the time you spend outdoors with the dog
Unlike summer season, you cannot go out and spend a lot of time with your dog during the winter season. Hence, you need to think about limiting the time that your dog spends outdoors. This can help you to prevent frustrating frostbites as well. This doesn’t mean that you should not let the dog go outdoors during winter. You can let him go out and play. However, you should keep an eye on your companion when he is out. If you can see any signs of cold in the dog, you need to take necessary steps to get him into the home.
Final Words
Taking care of a senior dog is never an easy thing to do. However, it is a must for you to provide protection needed by your senior dog during the winter season. Then you will be able to see how your senior dog is enjoying his time during the colder season of the year.
