Adventures with Astrid: Winter Walks

Pup Astrid has been enjoying some snowy walks, and some rainy walks, and sometimes even some rare sunny walks. For today, she's sharing one of her snowy walks with you all.

Some days I wonder if part of Astrid's mutt makeup is Husky. She loves winter. Cold weather and snow are her absolute favorite. It could be 5°F outside, and she'll happily lead me on a 5 mile walk. Though she failed to show it off in the photo above, Astrid also has a curly tail much like that of a Husky. Either way, though, this is Astrid's favorite time of the year. I myself am far more a fan of autumn and its weather, but I digress.

Warm wishes to all!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

We've given a variety of tips regarding today's topic, but we're going to compile them and mention them again today. Today's tip is to keep a close eye on your kitty or pup's water bowl and food bowl during the cold winter months. What do we mean by this? To begin, make sure the water bowl remains full and fresh. To keep warm on cold winter days, we of course run the furnace, or turn on heaters or the fireplace. This is of course crucial for helping our furbabies and ourselves remain warm when it's cold, but this can also lead to increased evaporation of water. This is just one reason to regularly check on your furbaby's water bowl, even on—or especially on—cold winter days. In addition, the furnace and other heat sources can lead to dryness, such as of your kitty or pup's coat and skin. This is another reason why it is crucial to ensure they have sufficient fresh water, as they very well may drink more in order to remain moisturized and comfortable in the dry winter air.

The food bowl might also be affected by the cold weather in the winter. This concept more heavily relates to furbabies who live outdoors or who spend time outdoors in the winter, such as ferals, strays, or those who go outdoors to use the restroom or go on walks. Those who spend time in the cold will often eat more in the winter. This is because when the body breaks down consumed food, it produces energy and heat, which can be crucial for helping a furbaby remain warm in the cold. Therefore, if your furbaby spends time outdoors, keep an eye on their food intake. They may require more food in the winter in order to remain warm and comfortable. Of course, if you have any concerns regarding your furbaby's diet, weight, and overall food and water intake, then do discuss this with your veterinarian.