Winter Walks – After walking your dog during the winter months, make sure to towel dry them completely. Take extra care around paw pads. Wipe this area with a wet clean cloth to remove any salt or chemicals from the road. Rub NHV Heal Care Ointment on cleaned paw pads to protect and soothe. Without proper care, pet paw pads can become dry, cracked and very painful. For other pets, like cats, outside time should be limited, since they may seek warmth in unsafe places, such as a car radiator.

Shake Off Those Winter Blues – Most pet owners tend not to take dogs and other pets out for long periods of time during the winter, because it’s understandably too cold even for us humans. However, pets need still need exercise and mental stimulation. A lack of both these needs may cause stress, anxiety, and destructive behaviors. There are plenty of indoor  games that can keep pets occupied and out of trouble. Try treat dispensing toys, puzzle toys, tread mills, exercise balls…which can keep dogs occupied for hours; for cats, a motorized mouse would work. To ease restlessness and stress from being indoors, use NHV Lesstress for dogs or NHV Matricalm for cats. These formulas help calm the nerves without affecting moods and personality, and are safe for long term use.

Happy Pets Have Healthy Skin – As the cold weather begins to blow, dogs and cats are prone to dry skin. To improve overall coat condition, and help with skin issues from the inside-out, add omega-3 fatty acids to their diet. Studies show that dogs and cats given omega 3 fatty acids (try NHV PetOmega 3) had improvement in clinical signs of pruitis, self trauma, coat character, and alopecia (loss of hair).

Staying Cozy – Cats and dogs feel the chill of winter extra deep in their bones (just like us people!). Be sure to give them more blankets during the winter months. If taking small dogs outside, dress them in a sweater or jacket as they are unable to generate the heat they need themselves. Larger dogs tend to suffer the effects of stiff joints and arthritic pain, and as theyneed all their muscles to support their weight, keeping them limber and pain free is important. There are plenty of orthopedic beds for larger dog breeds that will help. In addition, supplement their diet with NHV Yucca and NHV Old Timer, which will aid with joint pain, soothe inflammation, and help pets suffering from arthritis. Remember to keep arthritic dogs and cats moving in the winter especially, if joints are not mobile arthritis is compounded.