How to Protect Your Pet from Cold Days

On very cold days, even pets suffer from low immunity, which can lead them to contract diseases. As furry as your pet is, it also feels cold and needs extra attention so that its health is not impaired.

Your pet is your best companion and needs attention, love and affection at all times. And in winter it should be no different. Don't only worry about yourself and your family, remember that you must also protect your pet from the cold. If you have questions about it, see now some tips and learn how to protect your pet from cold days.

Warm pet clothes are great options to keep warm, especially those that have very short hair or are small.

In the sleeping space, it is necessary to have soft fabric covers and pillows so that the pet can warm up. If they sleep outside the house, always worry about positioning the house against the draft and avoid leaving in the open time. It is also important to always maintain the hygiene of the place by washing the covers to ensure the welfare and health of your pet.

Daily sunbathing is critical to keeping animals warm on breezy afternoons. So if you live in an apartment or your pet spends most of the day indoors, you need to take it for a walk and bask in the sunlight.

Forget the story that animals don't have to bathe in winter. It is necessary to maintain hygiene even on cold days. Keep the routine of sending your pet to the pet shop or bathe at home even always using warm water and preferably in the afternoon.

After bathing, dry the pet's hair thoroughly with the towel and, if necessary, use the dryer to ensure that it is completely dry. Also be sure to wash your pet's clothes to keep it smelling and clean longer.

Some diseases are common to contract on very cold days and may end up leaving your pet unwell and with some more problems that can compromise your health.

Remember that care should be redoubled for puppies, because their system of defense of the body is not yet well developed and for the elderly, where the functioning of the body is already a little weakened.

If you have a cold or the flu, keep your pet away from your pet to ensure its health is protected. This goes for large, medium and small animals. Those with rodents at home also need to take proper care as they are vulnerable to drafts and sudden changes in temperature. It is necessary to keep the small always in a well-ventilated place, but do not forget to heat your house on extreme cold days to avoid catching a cold.

Common animal diseases in winter

Pay attention to the behavior of your pet to prevent it from some diseases that are very common on low temperatures. If the animal exhibits discouraging behavior, lack of appetite and other symptoms, it is recommended to take your pet immediately to the vet to diagnose the problem. Check out some common animal diseases in winter.

Distemper

THE distemper It is one of the diseases with the highest mortality rate of dogs. It is caused by a virus that is easily contagious and difficult to treat because it has three well-defined phases with digestive symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting, respiratory symptoms such as nasal and eye discharge, nervous tics, convulsions and even limb paralysis.

Symptoms do not necessarily have to appear in that order and some do not even manifest themselves. If in doubt, you should take your puppy to the vet immediately, because the sooner you diagnose the problem, the more likely you are to save your pet's life. If you have more than one animal at home, extra caution must be taken as distemper can be transmitted. To distemper treatment A serological test is done and prevention is through imported vaccines.

The flu

Pets also have the flu. This is all caused by contagious inflammation in the trachea caused by a bacterium called Bordetella, which can contaminate animals and even humans. If your pet has a persistent dry cough, care must be taken as it may risk pneumonia where the cough has no secretion, only vomiting and in more serious cases the animal loses its appetite.

To prevent the problem and keep your pet healthy, avoid crowding and keep vaccines up to date.If symptoms develop, you must bring your pet to the vet for inhalation treatments and cough medicine. In more complicated conditions, antibiotics are prescribed.

Conjunctivitis

THE animal conjuctivitis It is caused due to increased dust and pollution in the environment, which ends up entering the eyes of the pets, causing irritation and itching. There is a risk of blindness. The main symptoms of conjunctivitis are red mucous membranes, light intolerance, and discharge. And to prevent illness on colder days, it is necessary to spread bowls of water throughout the house, both indoors and out, especially next to your pet's house.

The eyes should be cleaned once or twice a day in case of intense secretions, always with filtered water moistened with cotton. If your pet already has conjunctivitis, double care is required. The eyes should be lubricated with saline solution and in case of infection, apply eye drops. All this with prescription from a vet.

Tick ​​Disease

THE tick disease usually has its main cause due to contamination of the tick bite that lives in areas such as parks, streets, squares where there is a shortage of rainfall. To prevent your pet from having this problem, apply a tick product every 21 days, especially on dogs that don't walk out or have a lot of hair.

If your pet has symptoms such as fever, nose and gum bleeds, poor appetite and body blemishes, it is recommended to take him to the vet immediately, as he may be at risk for anemia, bleeding and kidney failure. Treatment to cure the disease is through antibiotics and tick elimination.

Rhinotracheitis and Feline Virose

THE rhinotracheitis and feline viral baldness they are upper airway viruses transmitted by direct contact through licking, sneezing and secretions that attack cats. Its symptoms occur through mucopurulent discharge in the nasal and ocular region and difficulty breathing. The pet still loses its appetite, becomes unwell and has a constant cough. Treatment for the cure of the problem is saline nebulization that helps a lot, but nothing to prevent instead of remedy.

5 Tips to Protect Dogs From the Cold (April 2024)