Winter survival guide for pets: How to protect dogs, cats, birds and rabbits

Winter can be tough on our pets too. As temperatures dip, cold floors, dry air, smog and shorter outdoor time can affect their comfort and health. And while we may instinctively reach for sweaters and blankets, keeping pets safe through winter involves more than simply keeping them warm. Whether you are a first-time pet parent or have shared your home with a furry companion for years, here is a winter survival guide to help your pet stay warm, comfortable and safe through the colder months.

The tiles that feel welcoming in May can become uncomfortable in January. Give dogs and cats a clean, dry bed away from damp walls, draughty doors and open windows. Place a thick mat beneath it to reduce contact with the floor. Senior pets may need particular attention because cold weather can aggravate conditions such as arthritis. But, remember that warmth should not create a new hazard. Keep beds away from room heaters, fireplaces and exposed wires. Direct heat can burn skin, while an unstable heater can start a fire. Heated mats should be used cautiously, and an animal must always be able to move away. A well-fitted sweater can help a small, short-haired, elderly or visibly cold dog during a chilly walk. It should allow normal movement and breathing, remain dry and come off if the dog gets too warm. Thick-coated breeds may need less insulation, but fur does not make any animal immune to prolonged cold.

In colder cities, shift your dog walks from dark, chilly mornings and nights to the warmer parts of the day. Keep the walks shorter, especially during cold waves, and try to understand your dog’s behaviour: lifting paws, refusing to continue, shivering or slowing down are signs that it is time to return. For a lot of houses in North India, winter care also means paying attention to pollution. Studies on Association between indoor air pollution and respiratory disease in companion dogs and cats have associated poor indoor air quality with respiratory disease or airway changes in companion animals. Although they don’t prove that every exposure causes illness, it is still important to remain cautious. On bad-air days, reduce outdoor time, avoid traffic-heavy routes, and keep indoor air free of cigarette smoke, incense and strong sprays. New coughing, wheezing or laboured breathing needs veterinary advice. Moreover, if there is open-mouth breathing in a cat, blue or grey gums, or collapse, immediate veterinary care is needed.

That does not mean your pet should remain bored. Lost outdoor time can be replaced with food puzzles, scent games, gentle fetch and short training sessions. Older pets and those with joint, heart or breathing problems need exercise suited to their health, not a sudden indoor obstacle course.

Do not automatically increase meals because the temperature has fallen. An outdoor working dog in extreme cold may expend more energy, but an apartment pet moving less can gain weight if portions remain generous. Keep fresh water accessible, measure food, monitor body condition and consult a vet before changing calories or adding supplements.

Continue brushing because a clean, unmatted coat insulates better, but avoid shaving it very short. If a bath is necessary, use lukewarm water and dry the coat completely before going outdoors. Ask a veterinarian before using oils, balms or human moisturisers, as “natural” does not necessarily mean it is lick-safe.

Recent Indian evidence shows that winter is not only an issue of comfort for pets. A 2024 pilot study in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar found that cases of canine distemper and parvovirus were highest in winter compared with any other season studied. Another two-year review of a Punjab hospital found that 45.49% of recorded cases of canine urinary stones had occurred in winter. Although these reports don’t directly correlate cold with the diseases, they do strengthen the sentiment that maintaining vaccination, hydration and routine veterinary care is essential.

Birds tolerate gradual temperature changes better than sudden ones. so, move your pet bird's cage away from direct cold airflow, but maintain ventilation. Winter heating and cooking introduce a separate danger: smoke, aerosols, fireplace fumes and fumes from overheated PTFE-coated non-stick products can seriously harm pet birds.

Rabbits and guinea pigs need dry, ventilated, draught-free housing with clean bedding. Rabbits do not hibernate in winters. So, if your pet rabbit is unusually lethargic or shows signs of limpness, it requires urgent veterinary attention. Welfare guidance places the preferred temperature range for domestic rabbits around 10–20°C, while guinea pigs can become cold below 15°C. So, in order to keep them warm and safe in winters, keep their enclosures away from direct heaters, preserve room for exercise and replace damp bedding promptly.

Observe: Check appetite, water intake, movement, breathing, paws and behaviour each morning.

Insulate: Provide a dry bed off the cold floor and away from draughts; keep heating sources guarded.

Adjust: Walk dogs in the warmer part of the day, shorten exposure to cold when needed and use a fitted coat only if the animal benefits.

Clean and dry: Wipe paws and exposed fur after walks; dry wet coats fully.

Keep routine care: Continue appropriate exercise, measured meals, fresh water, vaccination and prescribed medicines.

Escalate: Call a vet for persistent shivering, unusual lethargy, coughing or pain; seek emergency care for breathing difficulty, disorientation, bluish gums or collapse.

However, the pets in our homes are not the only animals fighting the cold. If you can, try and provide bedding and cots for stray animals too in winter. You can also encourage the community around you, including fellow citizens, animal-welfare groups, RWAs and local bodies, to provide straw, blankets, mattresses, elevated cots or other dry resting areas during severe cold. And as always, before starting a parked car, tap the bonnet and check underneath for dogs, cats or other small animals sheltering near the warm engine.