Winter Walking Tips To Keep Your Pets Safe

Our dogs enjoy walks in the dark about as much as we do. It can be more difficult to see hazards and if your dog doesn't have great eye sight anyway it can be quite unsettling for them. If you cant walk your dog during daylight hours, take extra precaution to stay seen and safe! LED collars, Hi-Vis leads and coats can be a great way for both you and your pooch to be seen. 

Keeping Warm: Usually your dogs fur will be enough to keep them warm when they're out and about, but sometimes dogs with thinner coats or those who are older or unwell can feel the chill more. Investing in a good winter coat for your dog is an ideal way to keep them cosy on a cold walk. 

Icy Surfaces: Just like us, our dogs can slip and fall on icy surfaces. Always be extra careful on walks particularly if your dog has leg problems such as arthritis. Its also a good idea to check your pets paws if they've been out in the snow and ice as cold temperatures, grit and salt can make your dogs paws very sore. Wash your pets paws if they come into contact with the salt and grit and you could also apply a think layer of paw balm to their pads to prevent them from cracking in future. 

Stay active: Its really important you don't let your dog become a couch potato, if they're reluctant to go out in bad weather, wait until there's a break in weather to make sure they still get their outdoor fun. Walks might be shorter then normal outside, so enjoy a few extra play sessions inside and prepare some fun stimulating games for then. Also remember if the exercise level has dropped, so should how much you feed.