SHE Loves Her Pets

Hey Ya'll! I've mentioned before that Andrew and I have three fur babies - Maggie, Manning, and Millie. When we first made the decision to be pet parents, we made a "rule" that they would be outside critters. As much as we love them, we can't trust them enough to stay inside while we're at work, and they loathe crates - they have entirely way too much energy to stay in one all day. With the colder weather we've been having, we've had to make some adjustments to our "rule". Today I'll share with you how we're adjusting to the colder weather and tips to keep your pets safe and warm.

• If your pet stays outside during the day, it is important to notice if their skin is irritated from the elements. If it becomes dry or itchy you can try adding a probiotic to their food or, if your dogs are unlike mine and enjoy baths, try letting them soak in an oatmeal bath. It should hydrate their skin quickly. However, it's not recommended to bathe too frequently, because it can also cause skin drying.

• Although dogs have fur, they can still become cold. If you are wearing a coat, gloves, and hat and are still cold, so are your pets. Even long haired dogs can experience this; if their fur becomes wet, it's more likely to become matted and not keep them as warm. There are pet sweaters and boots to help keep them warm, but not all will want to wear those. If your dog isn't one for clothing, try providing them a spot out of the elements (garage or dog house) with a comfy bed and blankets they can snuggle under. Our pups love these beds.

• Bring them inside at night. The temperature drops and no one likes to sleep in the cold. When we get ready for bed at night, we bring the pets inside. We keep their beds in a room off of our garage so they are close to outside if we need to take them out, but still warm and safe.

Sleepy Babies

Millie loves heated blankets

• Your pets can also burn more calories while trying to stay warm. Add a little extra food to their bowls when it's cold to make sure they don't get hungry.

I hope your pets are staying warm and safe these last few months of winter. Here's to a warm spring with lots of sunny naps!

xo ~ Brittney