• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Macarthur Veterinary Group

Your family pet is in safe hands

  • Home
  • About
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Opening Hours
    • Testimonials
    • Our History
    • Our Team
    • Facilities & Equipment
    • In The Community
    • Sustainability
  • Our Team
    • Partners
    • Veterinarians
    • Specialists & Consultants
    • Nurses
    • Animal Attendants
    • Administration
    • Careers
  • Services
    • Preventative Health Care
      • Annual Health Checks
      • Vaccinations
      • Heartworm Protection
      • Flea, Tick & Worm Control
      • Microchipping
    • Medical and Surgical Services
      • Desexing
      • Surgery
      • Dentistry
      • Wildlife & Rescue
      • Senior Pets
    • Emergencies
    • Facilities & Equipment
      • Endoscopy
      • In-house Laboratory
      • Radiology
      • Surgical Suites
      • Ultrasonography
    • Puppy Preschool
    • Cat Boarding
    • Behaviour Consultations
    • Dietary Advice
    • Pet Insurance
  • Contact
    • Bradbury
    • Camden
    • Gregory Hills
    • Mount Annan
    • Review Us Online
  • Pet Care
    • Blog
    • Articles
    • Downloads
    • Email Newsletters
    • Preventative Health Care
    • Dog Care
    • Cat Care
    • Rabbit Care
    • Ferret Care
  • Work With Us
Pet Care Tips for Cold Weather
You are here: Home / Articles / Pet Care Tips for Cold Weather

Cats, Dogs · 2 January 2019

Pet Care Tips for Cold Weather

Macarthur Vet Pet Care Tips for Cold Weather 1

When cold weather sets in, it is important to take extra care of your pets by helping them stay warm and safe throughout the winter months.

Pets’ cold tolerance varies based on their coat, body fat, activity level and health. Pets with conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease or hormonal imbalance will have a harder time regulating body temperature. The same goes for puppies, kittens or senior pets.

Arthritis

Pets with arthritis will become stiff and tender quickly in winter, and might find it difficult to move around. You can place soft beddings around the house to ensure your pets are comfortable wherever they are, and take special care to handle them gently.

If you suspect that your pet is suffering from arthritis, visit your veterinarian for a check-up.

Weight

You may feel like a little extra weight gives your pet some extra protection from the cold, but the associated health risks (including increased risk of diabetes, arthritis and heart conditions) far outweigh any potential short-term benefits.

Keep your pet at a healthy weight throughout winter by feeding them a healthy diet and giving them regular exercise, and keep them warm by keeping them inside.

Bedding

To help keep your pet warm, you can elevate their bed up off the floor by placing them on cushions or folded blankets. This is particularly important on concrete or wooden surfaces.

You can help maintain your pet’s mobility and avoid joint stiffness by engaging in regular exercise with them. A 20-minute walk on flat, even ground can work wonders for both you and your pet and gets the blood pumping to help protect against the cold.

If your pets are noticeably struggling to lie down or get up from bed, it may be a sign of arthritis or another age-related disease, many of which can worsen in winter. Consult your vet for advice, or organise a check-up during the chilly winter months.

Indoor Pets

With your pets spending more time indoors during winter, it is important to make sure your home is properly pet-proofed. This can be achieved by using space heaters with caution around pets, because they can knock them over, causing injury and danger to themselves, or potentially damaging property.

Outdoor Pets

Outdoor cats will seek warmth wherever they can, including on engines, under hoods of cars or in wheel wells. It’s important to always check your car and make some noise (by banging on the hood and honking the horn) before starting the engine. This will ensure that any cat in hiding can get out and avoid serious injury.

Staying vigilant throughout the winter months can really help keep pets safe and well. However there are always times when the unexpected occurs; it’s a good idea to insure your pet. Talk to your vet for more advice on pet insurance.


Article courtesy of Petsure Australia

Back to Top   |   Back to Articles


Related content

  • Pet Insurance…is it worth it? post
  • Caring for Your Puppy article
  • Bathing your pets in Winter post
  • Want a FREE bag of Hills Premium Food? post
  • Arthritis in Dogs article

Primary Sidebar

Latest News

Follow Our Facebook Page!

29 August 2023

Our Facebook Pages are Merging!We have made the decision that our clinic Facebook pages (Bradbury, Mt Annan, Camden and Gregory Hills) will be shut down and we will now advertise, educate, bring …

Continue Reading

Pet Insurance…is it worth it?

17 July 2023

Having pet insurance can provide several benefits for pet owners: Financial Protection Pet insurance helps protect against unexpected veterinary costs. It can help cover expenses related to …

Continue Reading

We’re Looking for Senior Veterinary Nurses

27 June 2023

Macarthur Vet Group is on the lookout for Senior Veterinary Nurses (min 4-5 years exp) to join our team. Our team of consists of Vets, Nurses, and Support staff who all share a love and passion for …

Continue Reading

Quick Links

  • Emergency Information
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Opening Hours
  • Review Us Online
  • Careers & Work Experience

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Follow Us

Footer

Bradbury

75 Jacaranda Ave, Bradbury NSW 2560
Book an appointment Call 02 4627 1333

Camden

6 Ironbark Avenue, Camden
Book an appointment Call 02 4655 7664

Gregory Hills

2/13 Rodeo Road, Gregory Hills
Book an appointment Call 02 4648 3588

Mount Annan

Unit 17/2-4 Main St, Mount Annan
Book an appointment Call 02 4647 7722

Copyright © 2023 Macarthur Veterinary Group · Terms of Use · Privacy Policy · Website by Provet