It’s time to gear up for your pet’s full winter care

Winter is here! Lazy start for day, cuddling with pet a little longer is the best. Hope the warm quilts, sweaters and jackets are out, and are clean for use. What about the furry buddies? Don’t worry I got your back to protect your pet this season. There are a lot of things that we can do to keep them protected this season, which we will discuss step by step. –by Almas Shariff

Warm clothing—Sweaters, jackets, beddings and all
We all agree that all furry buddies have different coats, but it doesn’t matter. They do feel cold like we humans do. We can dress our pets in jackets, or woollen clothing to keep them warm. Make sure the clothing is not too tight, have correct measurements. Use shoes to protect paws of our buddies, apply coconut oil daily before going to bed. This helps to keep the paws moisturised. Make sure you have proper bedding in place. And make sure material is cotton or microfiber clothing. Nylon or polyester can make your pet very uncomfortable, which can lead to itchiness or skin irritation. You can take help from other pet parents and decide.
Burns – Ouch! That really hurts
Pet proof your home and secure your pet from any appliances/fireplace which can cause any kind of burn or injury. If staying in high altitude, one can use the room heater and place it out of reach from the furry buddies and children, so that they don’t fall sick. Take special care of elderly pets and the young ones.
Water—Quench the thirst
No matter which season we are in keep your pet hydrated. Make sure the furry buddies have access to clean water every time. Make sure the pet food and water bowl are washed twice a day.
Overfeeding—A big NO
Pets put on pounds this season too. Shedding the few pounds is a big challenge. Always feed them the right quantity. If your pet is a foodie then make 3-4 parts of food and feed it over the day.
Exercise – Being in shape
Exercise your pet in the warmer part of the day. This is totally fine. We also need to compensate the time by indulging them with indoor activities or games like running up-down the stairs, hide & seek, fetch & throw, etc. This keeps them alert, active and also help them burn calories.
Daily grooming – Furry buddies at their best
Grooming our furry buddies on daily basis is essential. Every furry buddy has different coat and needs different attention.
Short coat – Comb the pet at least twice daily. If there is lot of hair fall then use a fine comb or furminator comb. Always brush the coat starting from tail to head.
Long coat – Comb your pet twice a day. Use a tick and flea comb or a narrow comb. Use a hair serum to keep the coat soft and untangled.
Eye cleaning – Use rosewater on cotton ball to remove the dirt near the eyes.
Oral care – Use oral spray daily to control the plaque and odour.
Paws – Wash the paws every time the pet returns from his walks. Apply coconut oil on paw-pads before bed. This will help keep the paw-pads moisturised, and prevent them from cracking and hardening.
Pampering – We all need and love
One can groom the pet at home or opt for a spa service. It’s advised that a proper grooming from a professional is must at least once every alternate month. Nail clipping is must, keep the nails short, there is high chance of getting chipped or getting curled into the skin if grown very long.
Use Epiotic solution on cotton ball to clean the ears. For dental use the oral spray or denta paste to clean. Trim the hairs near anal sac and behind the paws using the pet trimmer. Long coat pets can have a shorter coat to prevent the coat from getting matted or tangled. But never opt for zero shave. Make sure you are using a mild pet shampoo & conditioners. Avoid any kind of fur whitening shampoos and chemical wash. Make sure you wash the pet thoroughly with plenty of water. If not washed properly the pets might feel itchy which can cause skin infection. Blow-dry the pet after wash completely. Avoid using the deodorant’s or deo powders on pet within 24 hours of bathing. For ticks and flea consult your vet or professional groomer for the product to be used on pet.
Daily checklist

• See to that all vaccinations are upto date.
•  Deworm your pet every 4 months.
•  Feed the pets on time.
•  Pet should always have access to clean water.
•  Dress the pet in T-shirts or warm clothes.
•  Keep medicine and unsafe thing secured and out of reach from pet.
•  Combing the pets in opposite direction (tail to head)
•  Washing the paws after the walk.
•  Engaging your pet in indoor activities for atleast 20-30mins.
•  Have a first aid kit at home for pet and vet’s number handy

(Almas Shariff runs Amore Pet Spa in Bangalore, which provides pet grooming services and others including pet accessories.)