When the weather changes and temperatures drop, we like to ensure we have everything we need for a comfortable and safe winter. Just like us, our pets require forethought when it comes to the cooler months.
Weather conditions vary from region to region, and different animals adapt to the cold in several ways. But some pets need us to make specific preparations for their safety at the height of the harshest seasons.
As pet parents, we want nothing but the best for our furry friends. So how do we ensure our pets are all set for cold weather?
Here we look at a range of common pets and their individual needs for a safe and cosy winter.
Winter safety for all pets
Senior pets feel the colder weather more. If it is an option to have them inside the home during winter, this will help minimise some of the effects.
Any older pets kept outside should have shelters away from wind and drafts. These should be equipped with thick, insulated flooring to limit cold coming in from the ground. They should also have plenty of blankets to provide extra warmth and comfort.
Older dogs will benefit from a jumper or coat, and if they spend a lot of time in the alpine regions, grip booties help with both grip and insulation.
Pets with arthritis need even more TLC when the cold weather arrives, so having a good arthritis plan is essential:
Tips for pets with arthiritis
- Allow your pet to sleep inside the home or in an insulated kennel.
- Invest in some quality, insulated clothing and PJ sets.
- Ensure you have good-quality joint support products like 4CYTE, Glyde or Joint Guard. Browse all our Joint Supplements for Dogs here.
- Speak to your veterinarian about the levels of joint protection, anti-inflammatories and new monoclonal antibody therapies available to keep your pet comfortable.
Pets that live inside the home and can roam freely will actively seek out warm spots and love nothing more than a warm fire or heater to curl up in front of. To keep your pet safe from getting burned, ensure that open fires and heaters have safety guards.
Pets that roam outside have the potential to get lost. Making sure your pet is chipped and tagged with your contact information means that if they get lost, they can be returned home and reduce the time spent outside in the cold weather.
While we can apply general advice for all pets in winter, each animal type has its own needs to ensure they are safe and comfortable:
Tips for Dog Owners
Bedding
Extra blankets for your dog's bed are recommended for the winter months.
Some pet parents like to invest in a heat pad for the bed. When choosing a heat pad, it is essential that they are high quality and safe to use in the home.
Clothing
Dogs with shorter hair are more likely to feel the cold during winter. Well-fitted dog jumpers, coats and booties are a great way to retain body warmth during walks.
Browse our Dog winter accessories
SnuggleSafe Microwave Heat Pad
The SnuggleSafe Microwave Heating Pad is a simple, safe way to provide your cat, dog or small pet with comforting warmth. After only minutes in your microwave, the SnuggleSafe pad will provide your cherished companion with up to 10 hours of warmth and comfort. The heating pad is bite resistant, has no wires for a pet to chew through and is totally non toxic.
- Quick and safe, perfect for inside/outside pets of all ages
- Heats up in minutes in a microwave and lasts for up to 10 hours
- No wires or scalding water
- Bite and scratch resistant
Size: 21cm in diameter, 2.5cm thick rigid plastic disc.
Vetopop Dog Coat Reversible
- Reversible orange and grey padded coat.
- Thanks to its synthetic fabric padding, it will protect your dog from the cold and changes in temperature.
- Its Velcro ventral closure makes putting on the coat and collar a lot easier.
- Equipped with a reflective strip around the zipper, your dog will be safe at night.
- Delivered with its own storage pouch to save space. Easy to carry.
Machine washable at 30 ° C.
Thundershirt Dog Grey
The Thundershirt for Dogs is a unique drug-free solution for relieving anxiety in dogs, such as fear of thunder, fireworks, separation anxiety, travel, crating, general anxiety or fearfulness, reactivity towards other animals or people, problem barking, problem jumping and more. The Thundershirt works by applying gentle, constant pressure to a dog’s torso and this pressure has a dramatic calming effect for most dogs.
Very easy to put on and take off. Simply lay Thundershirt on your dog’s back and fasten the hook and loop closures. No head or leg holes to struggle with. Completely comfortable and safe for your dog. Safe to leave your dog unsupervised. Lightweight and breathable fabric. Machine washable in cold water; drip dry.
Sizes XXS to XXL. Measure around chest or use weight guide:
- XXS - Chest 22.5-33.75cm, <2.8 kg bodyweight
- XS - Chest 32.5cm - 45cm, 3-5.6kg
- S - Chest 40-57cm, 6-10kg
- M - Chest 45-65cm, 10-16kg
- L - Chest 60-80cm, 16-25kg
- XL - Chest 77.5-100cm, 26-44kg
- XXL - Chest 95-125cm, >44kg
Food and water
Dogs subjected to colder temperatures may require more food to create insulation from fat stores. For any change to your dog's diet, please consult your vet.
Dogs that spend time in air-conditioned homes need to drink more water to replace any moisture lost.
Supplements
To ensure your dog has the right balance of nutrients, consider adding supplements to your dog's diet. Consult your vet for specific advice on what is best for your dog.
Fur and paw care
If your dog has become wet during a walk outside, it is important to dry them thoroughly as soon as possible. If they require a bath, be sure to use warm water and a dryer so they don't get too cold.
Booties can help protect your dog's paws when outside if you live in a cold region.
View our booties here
Kruuse Buster Bootie Soft Sole
- Waterproof and breathable nylon
- Seam-sealed and scuff guard
- Upper drawstring closure
- Adjustable elastic hook and loop straps for perfect fit
- Colour-marked sizes
- Machine-washable
Petcare Paw Boots 2's
Petcare Paw Protective Boots protect your dog's paws from injury or infection, assisting in the wound healing process. Water repellent with a velcro fastener for easy wearing and removal. The larger boots have an extra velcro strap.
Boots come in packs of 2 and are available in a range of sizes:
- S (135x55mm) - to suit Yorkshire Terrier, Toy Poodle
- M (150x75mm) - to suit Jack Russel Terrier, West Highland Terrier
- L (177x90mm) - to suit Border Collie, Beagle, Dalmatian
- XL (215x90mm) - to suit Labrador, Boxer, Setter
- XXL (235x95mm) - for Rottweiler, Great Dane, German Shepherd
- XXXL (230x110mm) - to suit Newfoundland, St. Bernard, Leonberger
Kruuse Buster Bootie Hard Sole
Protective boot for active recovery. Veterinary outdoor cover boot made from waterproof and breathable nylon. Comfort and safety for patients when recovering from an injury or a surgical procedure. Veterinarians recommend the hard sole version for patient injuries requiring a heavier splint, or a thicker bandage for more than a few weeks.
- Waterproof and breathable nylon
- Seam-sealed and scuff guard
- Upper drawstring closure
- Adjustable elastic hook and loop straps for perfect fit
- Colour-marked sizes
- Machine-washable
Tips for Cat Owners
Food
Cats tend to eat more in winter. Offering your cat more food during these months will allow them to replace the energy lost by keeping warm.
Supplements
Like dogs, cats can experience joint pain as they get older. They may even start to show signs of arthritis. In winter, pain can worsen, and adding nutrients to your cat's diet can help with joint support.
Bedding
A cat's coat will provide much of the warmth they need over winter. However, to prevent cats from roaming at night, getting cold, and potentially hunting native animals, a well-insulated enclosure with warm bedding is recommended.
Fur care
Cats shed their summer coats, allowing their thicker winter coats to come in. Usually, cats groom themselves, but some cats need help. To prevent matting, brushing your cat's coat will remove the old hair and keep it knot-free.
If your cat has long hair and you usually get it clipped, winter is not the best time to do it. If they require a clip during winter, keep them indoors as much as possible, as they will have lost their natural insulation.
Tips for Horse Owners
Food and water
During winter, horses need more energy to maintain their body temperature. They also need more water to replace the moisture they get in the summer from lush pastures. Speak to your equine veterinarian to determine the increased percentage of food and water your horse will need.
Supplements
Just like your joints may ache more in winter, older, arthritic horses feel the cold more than younger ones. Your vet will advise you on the best supplements for your horse to help aid in more comfortable joints.
Blankets
Horses develop a natural winter coat that insulates them by trapping and warming air. However, in extremely cold weather, blanketing a horse may be necessary to reduce the effects of the elements.
Shelter
Horses should have constant access to shelter from the wind and rain — especially if there aren't many trees to take cover under. A stable or an open-sided shed is ideal.
Hoof care
Horse hooves grow much slower in winter. However, hoof trimming should still be maintained but reduced to once every 6-12 weeks.
Tips for Rabbit & Guinea Pig Owners
Shelter
Rabbits and guinea pigs should be brought inside in extreme weather conditions. If their enclosures are outside, ensure they have a lot of litter to provide insulation, are protected from the wind, and are safe from predators.
Guinea pigs and rabbits are social animals and love a partner to snuggle with in cold weather. Make sure you get two or more guinea pigs from the start, as introducing a new one later can lead to fights.
Heat pads
Heat pads are also available for smaller mammals. If you use heat pads, watch your pets safely and check the pads for chew marks.
Food and water
Small mammals must also have an appropriate winter diet. They may require feed with higher nutrients and more water.
Browse our Small Animal essentials
Oxbow Western Timothy Grass Hay
Oxbow Farm Fresh Hay provides small herbivores (guinea pigs and rabbits) with high quality nutrition that promotes digestive tract health and dental health while preventing obesity. Hay also provides mental stimulation for your pet and encourages natural foraging behaviour.
- Western Timothy Grass Hay is an additive-free 100% grass hay that's high in fibre and low in protein and calcium. It can be fed in unlimited amounts to your pet daily.
- Orchard Grass Hay is an additive-free 100% grass hay with a sweet smell and taste that is high in fibre and low in protein. It can be fed in unlimited amounts to your pet daily.
- Oat Hay is an additive-free 100% grass hay with savoury husks and a nutty taste that is low in protein. It can be fed in unlimited amounts to your pet daily.
- Botanical Hay is a rich blend of timothy hay and herbs (chamomile, lavender, lemon balm and clover) to add variety to your pet's diet and stimulate their appetite. It can be mixed or alternated with other Oxbow hays.
Vetafarm Cavy Origins Guinea Pig Food
Guinea pigs require a high fibre diet for the development of strong bones and to wear down their ever growing teeth. Just like humans, Guinea pigs need vitamin C supplemented in their diet for maintaining healthy cartilage, tendons and bones.
Cavy Origins is made with hand selected Australian ingredients and includes stabilised vitamin C, to provide guinea pigs with a high quality, nutritionally balanced diet.
Cavy Origins was formulated by veterinarians for use as a completely balanced diet for pet guinea pigs when fed at a ratio of 75% High fibre hay, 20% pellets & 5% treats and fresh foods. Contains stabilised Vitamin C.
This product is made with fresh, wholesome ingredients, grown with love and hand selected from Australian farms. No by-products. It contains natural chicory root, encouraging beneficial gut flora and immune function.
Extrusion cooked to ensure optimum digestibility, palatability and food safety.
Oxbow Simple Rewards Timothy Treats
Oxbow Simple Rewards Timothy Treats are made with high-quality, fibre-rich timothy grass hay for a fresh flavour and aroma your small pets (including rabbits, guinea pigs, rats and mice) will love.
Use Timothy Treats to add variety and enrichment to your pet’s diet. They can also be used during playtime or as a training aid.
Feeding Directions
Feed 3-4 Timothy Treat pieces a day. Treats should not exceed 5% of your pet's daily food intake. Your pet should have access to fresh drinking water at all times.
Keep safe this winter
Whether your pet is big or small, needy or independent, they all need extra support and care over the cooler seasons. With the proper knowledge and the best resources at your disposal, you can prepare for the cosiest winter yet.
