The colder months can be a particularly achy time for older cats and dogs. Like us, our furry friends are prone to developing uncomfortable pains in their bones and joints during the winter. According to Dells Animal Hospital in Wisconsin Dells, WI, you can change your pet care regimens during these months to protect your pet from this suffering.

Here are just a few pet care tips this veterinarian recommends you try out to help keep your pets warm and pain-free this winter season:

• Move Them Indoors: If you have a pet that usually stays outdoors, you should relocate them indoors when it starts getting cold out. The smaller stature or shorter coat your pet has, the earlier you should bring them in; they will feel the effects of cold weather quicker. If you are worried about your pet not being trained to be indoors, you could use a wire crate with a pull-out bottom to help protect against accidents. Try to avoid placing your dog or cat in the garage as antifreeze leaks are common in the winter; even the smallest ingestion is extremely fatal.
• Feed Them Less: Indoor animals tend to sleep a lot more and exercise a lot less during the winter. For these reasons, you should adjust their food so they do not become overweight. This will lower their risk of developing a disease that could cause them to live with pain.
• Use Booties: When you walk your dog on salt covered sidewalks and roads, it can actually harm your pet’s paws. Think about protecting their paws while simultaneously keeping them warm with a set of booties.
• Update Their Bedding: Foam and plush beds tend to be better bed solutions for pets during the winter as they are warmer and can conform to their joints to help them sleep more comfortably. Also, many manufacturers now make pet beds with warmers to really keep your pet nice and snug during the winter.
• Visit Your Vet: If your older cat or dog has already been diagnosed with osteoarthritis, one of the best things you can do to reduce their pain during the winter is to visit your veterinarian. They can prescribe an appropriate pain relieving medication or suggest other helpful pet care tips.

To prepare your pet for the upcoming cold weather, make an appointment at Dells Animal Hospital today by calling (608) 253-7361. You can also learn more about their pet care services by visiting them online. For regular pet tips, be sure to follow them on Facebook, too.