Winter is officially in full swing. The days are shorter and the nights are colder and longer. It is time to give pets what they need in order to stay happy, healthy and warm in the cold.

They cannot tell us when they need more comfort, so it is our responsibility as humans to ensure they are taken care of.  Here are a few things you can do to ensure your pet is healthy during the winter months:

1. Water is always vitally important. Although it is colder and pets are not as active as in summer, they may run the risk of dehydration if they don’t have enough water. Offer the same amount of water as you would during the summer.
2. Give your pet an extra blanket or two to sleep on or under. If your dog is open to the idea, and does not turn into a walking robot, put on a dog jacket for him or her at night or when they are outside for longer periods and the wind is stronger and colder than normal.
3. Nutrition, in particular sufficient food, is, because they need more energy to keep warm, just as important to ensure your pets are healthy from the inside out. Around Easter time, we sent out a reminder that chocolate, in any form, is not good for your dogs. We do realise that you love your pets and want to treat them whenever you can. We, therefore, thought it would be beneficial to also remind you that you can make your own healthy dog treats/biscuits for your pet to enjoy.

A simple recipe to follow is the following:

• 2,5 cups of whole wheat flour
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup steamed sweet potato or pumpkin
• 50ml unsalted butter
• 50ml coconut oil
• 2 tbsp peanut butter (optional)
• 0,5 tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
• 1 tsp water or more if needed

Mix these ingredients, roll and cut to preferred shape and place on a baking tray. Place in the oven at 180°C for 45min. Dry biscuits for 1 hour in the oven at 100°C.  Cool on a cooling tray and place in an airtight container.

Do not add any salt or sugar to this recipe – keep it healthy! They will love it!

This is an easy, affordable and nutritional recipe and loved by most dogs. Do yourself and your best friend a favour and bake a batch of these treats – it will be a fun activity for the whole family.