Eat Well & Stay Well This Winter

Usually, you won’t need to overhaul their entire diet but as their lifestyle changes through the Winter months, you might find yourself needing to make small adjustments to their diet. Some pet parents consider adding a few supplements in to keep them in tip top condition. Many of our pets’ diets are based on the lives they lead, including how active they are. If they become couch potatoes during Winter with shorter walks or less freedom to run around then you may even find yourself having to cut back on the calories to make sure they don’t get a little chubby!

There are a few ways you can keep your pets healthy during Winter. Pets tend to need fewer carbohydrates in their food which is where you can cut out some calories. Because it’s not as warm, they also tend to drink less so finding a way to add some much needed moisture to their diet and keep them hydrated can be beneficial as well.

With shorter walks, not only calories are a concern in the Winter months but also their coat health is. Any time they go outside they’re getting battered by cold wind and rain and then going back into a warm home can cause their skin to become dry. There are a few different ways to keep them looking and feeling their best during the harsher months.

You may be reluctant to switch their diet out entirely but adding something tasty to keep them hydrated and boost their protein can be helpful in Winter. We love to eat soups and broths through the Winter so why can’t our pups enjoy a nice warming broth as well? Alexander Naturals Chicken Bone Broth come in handy with pre-portioned and frozen nuggets. You can allow these to defrost and either give them as an extra to their meal or pour it over the top. You can even warm it up which will turn a boring bowl of biscuits into a nice comforting bowl of broth.

Packed with vitamins B12 and D, a nutritious broth may be just the thing your pooch needs to help them thrive through the Winter. It helps keep bones healthy and even maintains skin and coat health so your pooch will look as good as they do in the sunnier months.

If you’re looking for a supplement to help your pooch over the Winter months then look no further than Lifestage Salmon Oil for Dogs. Packed with omega 3, 6 and 9, salmon oil can work wonders for the coat and skin which can sometimes suffer during the Winter months. Our own personal skin routine changes in the Winter when we usually find ourselves having to use a more nourishing moisturiser to replenish moisture in the skin and that’s exactly what salmon oil does for your furry family member. It helps fight against the damage the cold and harsh weather can have on their fur and skin.

Salmon oil also helps to support eyesight for those nighttime walks and keeps the immune system nice and robust so they can stay fit and healthy no matter the weather.

The changes you make to your pup’s diet in the winter don’t always have to be just for nutritional reasons. While treats like Hollings Pizzles are a fantastic way of boosting the protein available in your dog’s diet, they also serve a greater purpose. You may be doing shorter walks trying to chase the daylight hours and those walks may be more restricted because every field seems to have turned into a river during the Winter. Many dogs don’t like getting their toes dirty and will carefully walk around every puddle which might help your carpets but means they’re likely getting less exercise in.

A bored pup can sometimes be a destructive pup so with healthy, long lasting chews you can help to mentally stimulate them and keep them out of trouble. Natural chews are a great way to give your beloved family member something fun to do when they can’t get outside and play as much as they might want to.

While most cats aren’t going out on daily walks with you, many of them still like to venture out and roam the neighbourhood to occupy a lot of their days. Winter might look a little different for them as their routine changes. Instead of dashing out the door first thing in the morning, they’ll take one look at the rain lashing down and turn on their tail to go back to bed instead.

If your feline friend is venturing out less then you may find that that they have much more time to kill which most cats will spend grooming. You may find you go from having an outdoor kitty in the Summer to an indoor companion in the Winter which changes their dietary needs. Indoor cats will tend to need fewer calories as they’re less active and they’re also more prone to getting hairballs. Royal Canin Hairball Care in Gravy is a gourmet cat food that not only provides extra moisture for those rough Winter months but also helps prevent hairballs so your moggy can groom the days away with fewer risks.

You can also find hairball preventatives in the form of tasty treats like VetIQ Healthy Bites Hairball Remedy Treats For Cats and Kittens if you would rather avoid switching out their diet entirely.

Just like our canine companions, our feline friends who are spending more time indoors when it’s colder outside will need to be kept occupied. Webbox Cats Delight Lick-e-Lix Cream Milk & Yoghurt are a wholesome and delicious treat that can be especially comforting when it’s not nice enough to go venturing outdoors. You can even spread it across a lickimat like the LickiMat Casper Orange to get them working for their treat and give them some extra fun things to do. Feeding your pets through enrichment during the Winter is a great way to get their brains working when they can’t get as much physical stimulation as they’re used to.

There are so many things you can do to help keep your pets keep fit and healthy over Winter. Whether it’s adding a beneficial supplement to their diet or just making sure they have plenty to do, visit us in store and online for all of your Winter necessities.