Keeping your animals warm and safe this winter - Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare

Dogs

Ensure your dog has some cozy places where they can rest that are warm and out of any drafts, so they can sleep comfortably. If your dog likes to snuggle under a soft blanket, make sure there is one on their bed or where they like to rest.

Some dogs benefit from having a warm coat to wear indoors too, especially at night. However, this will generally depend on how warm your house is at night time.

Dogs can get hyperthermia in cold conditions, especially smaller breeds and those with short hair. Very young ones and seniors too may also struggle when the temperature drops.

If you’re taking them for a walk, consider how long they will be outside for and put on a suitable cozy coat to help keep them warm. Fluffy dogs will get cold if their fur is wet so may like a waterproof coat instead.

Dogs

Some dogs benefit from having a warm coat to wear indoors too, especially at night. However, this will generally depend on how warm your house is at night time.

Dogs can get hyperthermia in cold conditions, especially smaller breeds and those with short hair. Very young ones and seniors too may also struggle when the temperature drops.

If they are walking on frosty, snow-covered or wet ground, their feet will get cold quickly which will make their whole body chill quicker.

Grit or rock salt on paths/roads can be a hazard for your dog, irritating their paws, and if they try to lick it off their paws (or off the ground) they can become seriously ill. Try giving your dog’s paws a wash down with warm water when you get in from walks where they may have come into contact (and then dry to stop damp skin irritation).

Finally, if your dog loves to swim, their excitement may mean they go in despite how cold it is! Try to avoid allowing entry to water in cold conditions, if they do jump in, then limit the time they are in and get them thoroughly dried and into a warm/drying area as soon as possible.

Cats

Cats love to be warm and cozy when it gets cold, so try creating a safe and comfortable space for them to retreat to. Use blankets to try to block out any drafts and you can also use them to partially cover any open beds to keep the heat in.

Covered beds can provide a great, warm place to sleep and are also great spots to hide in too.

If possible, give your cat a choice of warm places to sleep, even a comfy dressing gown can serve as a good bed when it turns chilly!

Cats

Covered beds can provide a great, warm place to sleep and are also great spots to hide in too.

If possible, give your cat a choice of warm places to sleep, even a comfy dressing gown can serve as a good bed when it turns chilly!

Small Animals

It’s advisable to move guinea pigs inside over the colder months as they do not tolerate cold, wet weather well and they do not need access to outside runs over winter.

For outdoor rabbits and poultry, provide plenty of weather-proof shelter with clean dry bedding which should be spot cleaned daily and topped up as necessary. Soft barley straw and hay are good at insulating in hutches/sheds so we provide big piles of these for our animals.

Rabbits use each other as hot water bottles, make sure that rabbits have companions that they can snuggle with over winter.

Make sure that any indoor rodents/small animals are kept in warm, draft free areas with plenty of safe bedding to snuggle in e.g. paper tissues for small rodent nests.

Horses and Goats

Ensure that horses that are kept outside have access to a shelter or surface where they can retreat to in cold and wet weather as well as plenty of suitable bedding. We also use appropriate rugs for some of our horses and ponies too.

If they are in a herd then they will often stand together to keep each other warm, but it is also important to provide plenty of exercise to help keep them warm, especially if they aren’t living as part of a herd.

If their diet allows, then make sure there is enough forage for them to eat when they are out in the field.

You might also want to consider animal-safe heaters, particularly for any elderly animals in your herd that are particularly susceptible to the cold.

Horses and Goats

If their diet allows, then make sure there is enough forage for them to eat when they are out in the field.

You might also want to consider animal-safe heaters, particularly for any elderly animals in your herd that are particularly susceptible to the cold.

Keeping pets safe at Christmas

While the festive season is a fun time for many, it can be a stressful and confusing time for pets. To help keep them safe at Christmas, watch our top tips video:

Can you help keep our animals warm and safe this winter?

Our animal welfare centre is home to many vulnerable animals, from elderly dogs and cats, to rescued animals like goats and horses. Keeping their shelters insulated and heated during cold nights is vital for their wellbeing.

With your donation we can continue to provide warm blankets, bedding and a warm environment as the temperatures drop. Here’s how you can help -

I'd like to help

Can you help keep our animals warm and safe this winter?

With your donation we can continue to provide warm blankets, bedding and a warm environment as the temperatures drop. Here’s how you can help -

I'd like to help