Winter is the perfect time for a little extra love and care to ensure the best quality of life for your dog or cat. Follow these simple, natural tips to ensure your pet has a fun, healthy, not-so-frigid winter.

Winter Dog Tips:

• Nutrition: To ensure your dog’s body is functioning to it’s full potential and to avoid a winter slump, be sure to feed them a nutritious, preferably organic, diet. Cooking at home and adding the proper supplements is the easiest way to ensure quality and proper nutrition intake. Like humans, dogs become more susceptible to getting sick during the winter when our immune system abilities are lowered.
• Exercise & Rest: It’s important to stay active during the winter, even if this means playing indoors. Rest is also important so your dog can build up and store the extra energy they need to keep warm in cold temperatures. A good balance of exercise and rest is key.
• Paw Care:  Salt and other chemicals used to treat roads, in addition to the biting cold, can mean painful pads that leads to licking or itchy skin that leads to scratching. (If you ice your property, be sure to invest in a pet-safe brand). Wiping you dog’s paws after each time they’re outside will help remove irritants from the outdoor elements and prevent little cuts and cracks from forming. If your dog’s paws become irritated, try soaking them in warm water. If your dog continues to suffer from itchy paws or skin, try adding an Omega-3 DHA supplement.
• Grooming: Proper brushing and grooming ensures better circulation and therefore a better ability to keep warm in the cold. It also helps to towel dry or blow dry (on low heat) to fully dry your dog after being outdoors in the elements. Also, always use a natural shampoo to cleanse your pet.
• Vet Check Up: Always consult a veterinarian before drastically changing your pet’s routine, or if you notice behavioral or physical changes this winter.

Winter Cat Tips:

• Outdoor Winter Cats: Check the car: Outdoor cats tend to hang around cars for their warmth, so be sure to do a quick check for outdoor kitties before you start up the engine. Also be sure to clean up any spilled antifreeze since it is poisonous to cats. Outdoor cats also require a bit more food in the cold months as they use more energy trying to keep warm. Up your cat’s food, or try adding some nutritious organic vegetables like steamed carrots to keep them full, healthy and happy.
• Exercise: We’re all guilty of sitting around with warm blankets and a steaming hot chocolate on some of the coldest winter days, but exercise during these cold months is just as important for your cat as is it for you. Make sure to take out time each day for exercise – cats will usually succumb to chasing a delicious-smelling catnip toy.
• Nutrition: Cats, especially kittens and senior cats, require additional supplements to ensure they get the most purring out of life. Supplements like Omega-3 DHA are key for brain Support skin and joint health.
• Extra Warmth Indoors: Make sure you cat has a cozy place to cuddle up on cold winter days. Invest in a pet bed or fluff up their current hangout with an extra fleece blanket or two.
• Vet Check Up: Always consult a veterinarian before drastically changing your pet’s routine, or if you notice behavioral or physical changes this winter.

Cheers to belly rubs, ear scratches and warm little paws!