With the weather now decidedly wintry, it’s worth thinking about how to keep your pets safe and happy when the ice and snow arrives. Here are my top tips for looking after your pets this winter:

Dogs:

Dogs are generally tough animals with the majority of breeds having thick well-insulated coats that are very effective at keeping out the worst of the winter weather. However that doesn’t mean that you can take their wellbeing for granted in weather conditions such as we’re seeing at the moment as extreme cold and snow can present some significant risks to their health and wellbeing.

• Hidden dangers – heavy snow falls can hide all sorts of hidden dangers from barbed wire to broken glass and this can lead to bruises, cuts and even broken bones. So take care on your dog walks and try to stick to well known routes to minimise the risks of unwelcome surprises from under the snow.
• Sliding – Dogs often don’t know when to take it easy and strains and fractures from sliding on icy patches can be a problem in this kind of weather. It’s worth taking it a bit easier than normal and not throwing balls or sticks unless the ground offers secure footing to try to reduce the risks.
• Ice – every year a number of dogs fall through thin ice and either drown or suffer from hypothermia so it’s vital to take extreme care if you walk your dog near large bodies of water such as lakes. And never ever encourage your dog onto the ice by throwing a stick as you can never be sure how thick and strong it is. If your dog does fall through the ice don’t put yourself at risk as you could easily follow them in – either try throwing them something to climb onto or call for help.
• Ice-balls – not a major danger but hairy dogs in particular are prone to getting ice stuck between their toes and this can lead to bruising and pain if left to accumulate.
• Cold – most dogs are well insulated so the cold isn’t too much of a problem but for short haired dogs and those not used to this kind of weather it can be more of a problem. There are lots of winter accessories available for dogs including coats and mitts and these are worth considering if your dog isn’t naturally well equipped for this kind of weather. At night make sure your dog has plenty of bedding to snuggle into as even if they are in the house temperatures can drop pretty low at night. For dogs living outside warm bedding is obviously even more crucial, and deep piles of fresh straw are one of the best insulating beddings. Only dogs who are used to living out should be left outside in this kind of weather, and even for these hardy animals it’s worth considering if they would be more comfortable inside (although surprisingly many outdoor dogs actually prefer being in their cosy kennel to being in the house).

Cats:

Cats are pretty good at looking after themselves in the cold, usually preferring to stay in the warm and dry and watch the snow fall from the safety of a windowsill or radiator hammock. However there are still some potential risks to their health in extreme weather conditions:

• Urine retention – cats who usually go to the toilet outside can sometimes be so reluctant to go outside for a wee that they hold onto their urine to the point that it can be dangerous. Retained urine increases the risks of blockages, particularly in male cats, and urinary tract infections which are more common in female cats. To reduce the risks, make sure you offer at least one clean litter tray in an easily accessible place.
• Ice – cats are generally more cautious than dogs and are also obviously lighter so they tend to be less at risk from falling through thin ice. However where snow is covering a thin layer of ice they can be caught out and this can lead to dangerous immersion in freezing cold water.

Rabbits:

In the wild rabbits would be safely tucked up in their burrows several metres underground, but domestic rabbits tend to have much less well insulated living accommodation. A typical hutch offers little protection from the cold, and without plenty of dry bedding rabbits can be at risk of hypothermia. It’s generally advisable to bring rabbits indoors or at least into the garage in this weather, but if they are outside make sure you check them several times a day at least and ensure that their bedding is warm and most importantly completely dry. It is also vital that they have access to drinking water so make sure you de-ice their water regularly during the day.

Fish:

Pond fish are generally pretty good at surviving in cold weather even when ice forms on the surface of their pond as they will spend their time at the bottom where the water remains at a minimum of 4 degrees C. However if the surface of the water remains frozen for more than a few days toxic metabolic by-products such as carbon dioxide can build up in the water turning it ‘sour’ so it is important to maintain a hole in the ice in longer spells of cold weather. This is best done by pouring hot water onto the ice rather than physically breaking a hole as the shock waves from this can be very distressing to fish, particularly sensitive species such as Koi carp.

Longer term the best solution is to use a pond heater. These are relatively cheap devices that maintain a small hole in the ice using a very low level heater and are the most reliable way of keeping fish safe in prolonged cold spells.