West Melton Vet Centre
West Melton Vet Centre - Companion animal Vet Clinic for the community.
Keeping your pet warm enough is always a worry, and it’s hardest to manage at night for pets who don’t sleep in your room. How can you make sure your lovely pet is warm enough at night?
If the temperature is averaging below 7°C, most dogs shouldn’t be left outdoors day or night – they should either be indoors or with access to a draft-proof shelter with a cosy bed where they can curl up and preserve their heat.
Several factors influence how much your pet will feel the cold: longer hair, a larger size and more body fat will all insulate your dog or cat. If you’re feeling cold in your house for you overnight, your pet is probably also feeling the chill. If the tips of your pet’s ears are warm, they’re probably warm enough all over – the extremities tend to get cold first.
Animals that are smaller, leaner, or animals with shorter coats will feel the cold much more acutely. Puppies, kittens, and elderly cats and dogs will also find it harder to regulate their heat on cold nights. Ensure these pets have blankets and small spaces to snuggle into; consider leaving a heater on a low setting overnight. They’ll always need to be able to move away from the heat and towards it. Here are a few tips for winter pet warmth from the SPCA:
Of course, if your pet already sleeps on your bed, you probably know exactly when they want to borrow a little warmth – when you’re almost falling out of bed with a furry friend pressed into your side!
West Melton Vet Centre - Companion animal Vet Clinic for the community.
