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Temperatures are dropping across the UK with snow weather warnings in place.<\/p>\n
Meteorologists had warned that temperatures overnight could have plummeted to as low as minus 8C as a week-long spell of wintry conditions hit the UK.<\/p>\n
UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) cold weather health alerts for all of England remain in place ahead of a week of low temperatures.<\/p>\n
With this news, many will be thinking about how this chilly weather may affect our pets.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s important to prepare our dogs, as well as ourselves, for this forecast.<\/p>\n
From diet to grooming, here are some things to bear in mind to keep your four-legged friends safe and well this winter.<\/p>\n
Keep their paws well-groomed<\/p>\n
Paws are very sensitive to temperature changes, so try to give them some extra care and attention this winter.<\/p>\n
\u201cMonitor for any sore patches, cracks or cuts,\u201d advises Charlie Soames, pet expert and head of UK operations at Pets4Homes. \u201cIf you do notice any of these, use a moisturiser or dog paw balm to keep them healthy.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can also invest in dog boots to keep your dog\u2019s paws warm and protected.\u201d<\/p>\n
Keep your dog warm<\/p>\n
(Alamy\/PA)\u201cMake sure your dog is at the right temperature, especially if they\u2019re a smaller breed,\u201d says Robbie Bryant, head of education and development at Open Study College, a distance learning provider offering courses in animal care.<\/p>\n
\u201cKeep a warm, insulated bed off the ground and away from any draughty areas, such as a door,\u201d he adds. \u201cGiving them extra blankets will also help them keep warm during the winter nights.\u201d<\/p>\n
Get them a coat<\/p>\n
Woman putting collar, leash and coat on her dog to get ready to go out for a walk in cold weather (Alamy\/PA)\u201cIf you\u2019re reaching for your coat when it\u2019s time for a walk, make sure your dog is wrapped up as well,\u201d says Soames. \u201cSome dogs have less body fat and are less hardy than others, so they will require extra help to keep warm.<\/p>\n
\u201cA canine coat is generally a valuable thing to have on hand as the mercury drops.\u201d<\/p>\n
Be aware of winter hazards<\/p>\n
Antifreeze is great for defrosting your car in a hurry, but make sure you keep it out of reach from your pets.<\/p>\n
\u201cRock salt is a danger for dogs as it can irritate their paws and if ingested, upset their stomach,\u201d warns Bryant. \u201cIn addition, antifreeze is tasty for dogs and is toxic.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shovel the garden<\/p>\n
Close up image of a man shovelling snow in a garden (Alamy\/PA)\u201cIf it snows this year, consider shovelling a patch of grass so your dog can go to the toilet comfortably and not get too cold,\u201d suggests Bryant.<\/p>\n
Try to avoid overfeeding them<\/p>\n
\u201cFeeding your dog properly is also important in the winter to protect them from the cold, however, be careful not to overfeed,\u201d says Soames. \u201cThe winter months can lead to a reduction in the amount of activity your dog gets and can result in them piling on the pounds.\u201d<\/p>\n
Keep them active<\/p>\n
Dog jumping up to catch a ball that a woman has thrown (Alamy\/PA)Play fetch in the living room to keep your dog active.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf your dog doesn\u2019t want to venture outside in the cold, keep them active indoors,\u201d says Bryant. \u201cProvide them with lots of toys to play with and keep them occupied to avoid boredom.\u201d<\/p>\n
Make them visible<\/p>\n
The days are noticeably shorter and darker this time of year, so make sure your dog stands out and is visible to other walkers and road users.<\/p>\n
\u201cAttach a light to your dog\u2019s collar so they can be seen when walking in the night time or early mornings,\u201d advises Bryant. \u201cAlongside this, make sure your dog has great recall to ensure they can come back to you when you want them and avoid them getting lost.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the worldSign up to our free Morning Headlines emailSign up to our free Morning Headlines email I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our\u00a0privacy policy Temperatures are dropping across the UK with snow weather warnings […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4027,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[173],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4026","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n