Hey, Canada, the most colorful season is here with its golden falling leaves, pumpkin spice, and cold weather. With the temperatures dropping, cool wind blowing, and sweater-weather coming, it’s time to prepare your dog for the new season. Here are 5 tips to help you prepare your dog for fall!
Feed Your Dog with Nutrient-Rich Foods
With the temperatures dropping and the weather getting colder, it’s time to add some nutrients to your dog’s diet. Vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids are the most important nutrients to add to your dog’s diet by giving them foods rich in them. Apart from dog food, you can also choose natural dog treats like bully sticks and yak chews since they are rich in the above-mentioned nutrients.
Adding them to your dog’s diet will boost their immune system, which is especially important for dogs with seasonal allergies. They’ll also protect their skin and coat and ensure they stay healthy throughout the season.
Keep Your Dog Warm and Cozy
As the weather gets colder, you need to make sure your dog stays warm, especially if it’s a pup or a small breed since they don’t tolerate cold well. To do that, get them a vest, a warm coat, or a winter jacket.
When choosing their clothes, make sure you choose the ones that help your dog stay visible, such as raincoats with reflective stitching or patches and collars with lights or reflective strips.
Another thing to take care of is to ensure your dog stays warm during the night. The floors get cold and you don’t want your pooch to sleep on a cold surface, right? So, get them a warm bed and add a blanket or two to make sure they stay warm during the night. If you live in a colder area, consider getting a heated blanket or a self-warming bed to add extra warmth to your beloved pup.
Keep Your Dog Hydrated
We often focus on dog hydration in the summer. But, that doesn’t mean we should forget about it when the weather isn’t hot. In fact, the dry weather in fall makes your dog lose water faster, and they need plenty of water to stay healthy, especially after a good run or vigorous play. So, make sure you don’t forget to fill their bowl with fresh water every half an hour or less, depending on their needs.
Keep Up with the Flea and Tick Treatment
Fleas and ticks are mostly associated with summer. However, they are present all around the year since they can survive high and low temperatures. So, yes, dogs can get fleas or ticks at any time during the year. That’s why it’s important to keep up with their regular flea and tick treatment.
Groom Your Dog Regularly
Some dogs shed heavily during fall as they replace their summer coat with a winter coat. To prevent hairs all over your home and keep your dog’s hygiene and looks at top form, make sure you brush your pup’s coat daily or at least once or twice a week. It’s also a good idea to either take them to a professional groomer when needed or use a de-shedding tool for at-home grooming.
Final Thoughts
Preparing your dog for the fall season means taking care of various aspects of your dog’s life, but it’s not too difficult. Make sure you follow these suggestions and consult with your vet. Also, monitor your dog’s behavior for any changes since they may mean your dog is going through something. For example, lack of energy may mean they are cold, or a running nose may be a sign of allergy or a cold.