Keep Pets Warm this Winter

Cold weather is here and the coats come out and the thermostat goes up. You may have finished winterizing your house and raking leaves, but have you thought about your pets? Winter is a dangerous time for pets to be left outdoors, especially when windchill is factored in. Windchill can seriously affect your pets’ health, and even cause death. There are a lot of quick and easy ways for pet owners to keep their pets happy and warm this winter, even when left outdoors.

Provide Shelter

Get started with a doghouse. If your dog is an indoor dog but left outside during the day while family is away at school and work, a doghouse will give your pet a place to go when the temperature drops. Some important tips for buying a doghouse are that it must be dry and draft free, and large enough for your pet to sit and lay down comfortably. Face the doghouse away from the wind, and cover the doorway with heavy plastic.

Provide Safe Warmth

The best way to help your pets stay warm in winter is getting them an outdoor electric heating mat.  Unlike most electric blankets, outdoor heating mats for pets are made to withstand anything weather can throw at them. If your dog has a bad habit of chewing things up, the outdoor electric heating mat (or blanket) can even be buried beneath the doghouse. If you don’t have a doghouse but there are still areas in your yard for your dog to find shelter, simply place a weatherproof heating mat where your pet likes to lay and sleep most often. The blanket plugs easily into standard 120 V outlets. The durable PowerBlanket heating mat can even be hosed-off, dragged, and walked/driven on without receiving any damage.

If you choose not to get your pet an outdoor electric heating mat, the Humane Society of the United States recommends raising the floor of the doghouse a few inches off the ground and covering the bottom with cedar shavings or straw. Animals also need to be fed more food during the winter, as cold weather depletes energy while trying to stay warm. Put food in plastic bowls, not metal, as metal gets very cold and will freeze the water and also cause your pets’ tongue to stick. Also keep in mind that cats should never be left outdoors for more than a few hours.

Show your pets how much you love them this winter by following these short and simple steps. If your pet has short hair, they are even more susceptible to the dangers of cold weather, raising the importance of keeping them warm. Ensure your pet's safety with an outdoor heating mat from Home Heat Center.