PET OWNERS URGED TO KEEP HOUSEHOLD PETS SAFE IN COLD SNAP

Met Eireann confirm snow in ‘severe 56-hour alert’

Met Eireann has issued a weather alert for Ireland from 4pm today that is set to last up to 56 hours. Petmania Ireland are urging pet owners to take the necessary precautions for their animal friends. With temperatures set to plummet over the coming days, here are the top-tips that all pet owners can easily put into place.

  1. If you don’t have a shed to move your pets kennel into, then consider housing them indoors to ensure they are kept safe from the cold temperatures. This is particularly true for cats.
  2. Keep beds warm and dry. Choose waterproof bedding and make sure outdoor kennels, hutches and homes are warm and dry. You can also use extra bedding for insulation, such as straw and hay in their sleeping areas.
  3. Combine fashion and function and wrap up canine friends with dog coats for extra warmth.
  4. Make sure they have plenty of fresh water and food, pets might also need a little extra food as they will be burning energy to stay warm.
  5. Keep an eye to ensure that water supplies do not freeze over. If your pet is feeding outside, use plastic bowls instead of metal to prevent their tongues getting stuck if it is too cold.
  6. Similarly to humans, dogs and cats can get frostbite! Pay extra attention to any signs of discolouration, pain or unusual blisters on their ears and paws.
  7. Like us humans in colder-climates pets need clean and moisturised paw pads to prevent cracking and pain caused by hard, cold salted pavements.
  8. Use Omega oils to prevent skin becoming dry and itchy in changing temperatures.
  9. Book a dog grooming session. Prevent matting, hydrate the skin and condition your dog’s coat or treat arthritic joints with a muscle and joint therapy bath.
  10. Finally, don’t forget about your garden birds who would appreciate some high fat foods like peanuts to boost their energy reserves.

With temperatures set to plummet to -4OC on Thursday and Friday, Emily Miller of Petmania, Ireland said, “Just as we humans adapt our lifestyle and skincare routines when the months turn colder, we want to encourage pet-owners to make a few small changes for their animal companions to make the winter more comfortable for them with these easy care-tips.”

Petmania, Irish-owned pet retailer and grooming studios have a range of products available to help our furry friends face the winter months.  For more information on preparing your pet for winter, contact a Petmania pet-expert in one of its 12 stores and grooming studio’s nationwide. See: www.petmania.ie for more.

 

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