Now that winter is here, it’s time to consider how this could change your furry friend's day-to-day activities. Dogs and cats need different levels of care depending on the season. In the colder months, many experience allergies, thicker hair growth, and boredom due to staying indoors most days.
Fortunately, Lewis is not just a store for humans. We offer various health resources and playtime toys for our four-legged friends, too! With the colder months setting in, discover how you can care for your pet and enrich their lives.
Yes, animals can get seasonal allergies just like humans can. In the winter, the most common allergies for pets are caused by their indoor environment since they’re inside more often. Among those allergies, dust and mold are the most common.
Dogs’ and cats’ allergen symptoms are largely similar to humans. For example, dogs may have watery eyes, sneezing, and runny noses. However, dogs and cats also experience excessively itchy skin as a result of their allergies. If your furry friend’s skin is red, inflamed, and scabbing over, they may be experiencing irritation from their environment. Cats groom themselves repeatedly as a reaction to their allergies and may develop ulcers or ear infections.
If you notice any of these symptoms in your pets, it may be time to give them allergy medications or find another method of alleviating their discomfort.
Just like dogs and cats can get seasonal allergies, they can also take antihistamines to mitigate their symptoms. Lewis carries multiple remedies for seasonal allergies that are safe for your pet, including Benedryl®, ZYRTEC®, and Claritin®. Important note: If you get Claritin®, make sure it is NOT Claritin D® or any other type of allergy medication that includes pseudoephedrine, as it is deadly for pets. Additionally, we carry the dog-specific antihistamine—PetArmor.
Lewis also carries another allergy medication for dogs— Naturvet Hemp Allergy Chew. These chewable antihistamines help retain moisture in your dog’s skin to avoid excessive scratching and irritation. We also offer Vetericyn Hot Spot Spray to soothe already itching skin.
Lewis offers various tools and hygiene products for dog and cat grooming. While cats can normally clean themselves, it’s especially important to assist them with hygiene during the winter. Both dogs and cats grow thicker coats to keep them warm in the cold. However, more hair can create more problems as it’s more susceptible to matting. Make sure you are brushing your pet’s hair at least twice a week to prevent knots.
For your dogs, or if you have a cat that goes outside, it’s especially important to clean their paws regularly. The winter elements and the salt on the roads can irritate your furry friend’s paws, drying them out and creating rashes. It’s important to wipe them down every time your pet comes inside. Washing their paws with warm water or applying paw balm are effective ways to soothe and protect them.
Lastly, since the colder weather is notorious for drying out skin, it will serve your dog well to limit their baths. Consistent shampooing may dry out their skin, and in the wintertime, when dry skin is already a concern, this may only make things more uncomfortable for your pup.
Dogs spend much of their time indoors in the winter and, consequently, get less exercise. Because of this, you may need to modify what they’re eating. Diet changes are more for your dog than your cat, as not much changes for house cats in the winter regarding exercise.
Many dogs gain weight during the winter because they’re not as active. Keeping this in mind, consider scaling back their daily food intake, not by much, but enough to where they won’t gain excessive weight. You should always talk to your veterinarian before changing your dog’s diet.
You may also want to increase the amount of protein your dog eats in a day. Again, since they’re not exercising as much, you’ll want more protein to maintain their health and prevent their muscle mass from shrinking.
A common concern many dog owners have is how they can keep their pets entertained during the wintertime. It’s not as easy to bring them to a dog park or take them on walks. Fortunately, we hear your concerns and have found tried and true methods to keep your dog’s life enriched during the colder months.
Unfortunately, most people can’t spend every waking moment with their dog. So, during the day when you’re gone, finding ways to keep your dog occupied in your wake will benefit their mental health and cognitive function. Even if your dog needs to be left in a kennel during the day, there are still many ways to entertain them.
For starters, giving them an edible toy, like a hollowed-out bell pepper with kibble inside, will stimulate their brain and give them a healthy treat! You should also consider leaving music on if they tend to get anxious when alone. Music can be soothing for dogs, so hearing calming, slow music will be very relaxing. You can also give them Sentry Calming Chews, which we carry in our stores, to relieve their stress.
Instead of filling their food dish with a scoop of kibble, consider offering your dog an exciting challenge at mealtime. Feeders that require your dog to forage and work around ridges to get their food create a stimulating game that forces them to use their instincts to obtain the food. Slow feeders are effective at enriching mealtimes and are especially helpful for dogs that tend to eat too quickly, as they require your pup to slow down and work for their food.
Finally, finding time to play with your pets when you’re home is not only beneficial for their health but for your relationship with them. Dogs and cats need time to play and get their energy out, especially after being cooped up inside all day. And having time to play with you will only strengthen the bond between you two.
At Lewis, we’ve got you covered in the toy department. Browse our dog and cat toy options at any of our locations. From tug-of-war to motorized toys, we make playtime fun for you and your four-legged friends!