Locki keeps warm in his dog coat as winter sets in.FOR pet owners, winter is the time to keep dogs or cats inside and out of the cold.
Mt Dandenong veterinarian Moss Siddle says dog owners should keep their pets warm and if possible inside away from the chill of winter.
“It is a good idea to keep your animals inside during winter or make sure their bed is away from any wind drafts,” he said.
Mr Siddle said it was also important not to overfeed pets during winter to avoid excess weight gain.
“In winter dog owners tend to exercise less, which means their pets are less active and can put on weight if they’re not careful,” he said.
“Pets have a tendency to put on weight in winter, so it’s important to give them some sort of exercise each day – playing ball or fetch with your dog for 20 minutes a day is all they will need.”
Mr Siddle says buying a dog coat is also an option during the colder months to keep animals warm.
He said winter could also be a high-risk time for pets to get fleas.
“A lot of people tend to think that the cold weather wards fleas off, but that is not the case,” he said.
“It’s the time now to wash bedding and give your pets a flea treatment.”
It is also time for pet owners to start thinking about keeping their pets warm to ward off the winter chill.
