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Winter is coming. Missed by some, hated by others the coldest time of the year is a hard test for our body, but also for our dog’s body.

Low temperatures, blowing wind or increased levels of humidity are ideal working conditions for bacteria and viruses that are waiting for a gap in our immune system. The turn of autumn and winter is a period when the risk of catching a cold, angina, flu or various types of inflammation increases dramatically. The problem mainly affects children, whose organisms are not yet strong enough to defend themselves against pathogens, but adults are often broken down by disease. In dogs, the most common at this time is kennel-tiring, dry cough leading to inflammation of the trachea and bronchi. It is caused by type 2 adenovirus, parainfluenza virus and whooping cough bacteria. A pet becomes infected with it via droplets through contact with a sick dog. The disease manifests itself as weakness and high fever, severe dry cough with gag reflex, enlargement of tonsils and lymph nodes, and runny nose. Diarrhea may also occur. If left untreated, it leads to complications in the form of chronic bronchitis. The most effective preventive measure is the kennel cough vaccine. If the vaccinated dog becomes ill, the infection will be milder and easier to deal with.
How do you increase your chances of getting through a sea of ​​dry foot infection? Better to prevent than to cure. Below we present a decalogue of behaviors that will help you avoid illness. Do not delay their implementation until the first calendar day of winter, especially since most of them are simple methods that do not require a lot of free time. Take advantage of our advice and invest in your health today.

Diet
You are what you eat. The truth is as old as the world in winter returns with redoubled strength. A balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals is the foundation on which your immunity is built before winter. Especially in times of increased morbidity, it is important to provide the body with the necessary ingredients. Choose unprocessed products and, if possible, free of preservatives and dyes. Remember about the balanced proportions of macronutrients: protein, fats (preferably of plant origin) and carbohydrates – all of them are necessary for the proper functioning of the system called human. In addition to the quality of meals, regularity is also important. Eat smaller portions at a constant frequency and do not skip any meals. In particular, don’t forget about breakfast, which is the first domino in the puzzle of a good day.
When it comes to our dog, it is enough to stock up on a decent quality food that contains, in addition to protein, fat and carbohydrates, the following ingredients:
Vitamin C – in the form of a supplement or natural, e.g. rosehips, acerola.
Brewer’s yeast – as long as it is not present in the pet’s food or is in a small amount. It is a natural complex of easily digestible protein, B vitamins and rare microelements. Yeast also has a probiotic effect, supporting digestion and immune processes in the intestines.
Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids – the best source of these is fish oil. They are also found in freshly pressed linseed oil, linseed, sunflower seeds, pumpkin and nuts.
Beta-1,3 / 1,6-glucan-stimulates the immune system by increasing the activity of macrophages that destroy germs.
Flavonoids and carotenoids are compounds found in plants. They prevent aging, support the production and activity of lymphocytes, and inhibit the multiplication of viruses. It is worth giving the dog, for example, raw carrots, beets or blueberries.
Probiotics – healthy intestines, in which digestion and absorption processes take place properly, and healthy bacterial flora determine the immunity to the greatest extent.

Sleep and relaxation
Regeneration is an important element in the life cycle of each of us. Even if in today’s busy world we marginalize its importance, it is one of the main factors influencing the quality of our lives. Sleep is a process of charging internal batteries. When our body informs us of weakening batteries, our resistance to prowling pathogens also drops. Winter is the perfect time to take it easy, as nature did. Indulge yourself, give your body an additional 30-60 minutes. sleep, take time to relax. Do you think it’s a waste of valuable time? Nothing could be more wrong! This is an investment that will allow you to avoid having to put aside the daily challenges of L4 and your resilience will increase before winter.
Our adult dog does not need to take care of an additional dose of sleep, because during our absence, it can take a nap after a nap. The issue becomes relevant when talking about older dogs and puppies. We should give them enough time without classes, walks and training so that they can rest peacefully and recharge their batteries while sleeping.

Physical activity
Sleep and relaxation are extremely important. This does not mean, however, that you should spend all your free time passively in an armchair in front of the TV or computer. You should find a place for traffic in your schedule. You know best which activity is right for you. Swimming pool, yoga, fitness, jogging, or maybe just a walk or evening gymnastics? Choose what suits you best and what you feel good about. Remember to choose the intensity and length of training depending on your condition and health. Not all of us have to become an Olympian right away!
It’s the same with dogs. As we all know we have about 400 breeds registered with the FCI. Dogs vary in size, weight, character, and suitability for sports and work. For this reason, it is necessary to provide them with the right amount of exercise in the fresh air, paying attention to the preferences of the breed that our pet is. Anyway, exercise in the fresh air is just like in humans an effect of increasing immunity and supporting the general condition of the body.

Vitamin C and immunity before winter
Vitamins are the fuel of our immune system. Vitamin C plays a particularly important role here, as it is a highly qualified guardian of immunity. Fall and winter are the seasons in which you should especially take care of its supply. It is not an overly difficult challenge, as vitamin C can be found in many products: lemon, citrus, parsley, pepper, sauerkraut, viburnum, elderberry and tomatoes. For those looking for more direct solutions, we offer prophylactic vitamin supplementation in the form of lozenges, effervescent tablets, and chewing gums. You can give your children vitamin C in the form of drops.
In dogs, we do not have to worry about vitamin C supplementation because it is synthesized in the body of the vast majority of dogs (except Dalmatians) under the influence of light.

Purge
Vitamin C alone may not be enough, so it’s worth considering additional natural supplements. One of the most popular solutions in recent months is the purges. Herb has many advantages in its deck, the most important of which is the strengthening of immunity. Cistus has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antifungal properties. It inhibits the secretion of histamine and is a rich source of polyphenols, thanks to which it naturally strengthens the immune system. Regular drinking of a purge infusion is an excellent form of prevention, not only during the coldest months of the year.

Drink plenty of warm drinks
Consuming a lot of infusions will also be helpful in maintaining a high level of immunity before winter and during the coldest months of the year. Various types of herbal and fruit infusions are perfect for this role. First of all, you can take advantage of the properties of elderberry, lime, chokeberry, rosehip, raspberry, blackcurrant, quince and cranberry. Depending on your preferences, you can diversify their taste with fruit syrups. Drinking infusions will provide the body with the necessary vitamins and will ensure the proper level of hydration.
In dogs, especially those living in apartments, constant access to fresh, cool, clean (of course) water is important. Why? Apartments usually have dry air from central heating or air conditioning systems. In addition, we – humans have got used to a high “comfortable” temperature, which is not so comfortable for pets.

Winter hardiness thanks to honey and ginger
Drinks in the period of an increased risk of catching infection should be strengthened with two ingredients, which may not make you invulnerable to viruses and bacteria at once, but will increase your immunity in the long run. It’s all about natural honey and ginger. Honey dissolved in chilled water is a mine of nutritional value and easily digestible carbohydrates. It has anti-inflammatory properties, protects the throat and strengthens immunity. In contrast, ginger lowers blood sugar, has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, and regulates digestion. It can be taken in the form of tablets or chopped root added to warming tea.
Neither honey nor ginger is recommended for dogs, but consider taking a small amount of garlic twice a week: it works on the immune system, has antibacterial properties and is hated by parasites.

Take care of the air quality at home
Since we mentioned the right level of hydration, it is worth adding that the humidification of the air in the rooms where we stay is also important. Too dry air, which is easy to access, especially during the heating season, can damage the throat mucosa, which is particularly vulnerable to children. Therefore, we recommend that all mothers take care of the proper level of air humidity in the child’s room. This can be done by hanging a wet towel or humidifier on the radiator. We should also remember that the rooms in which we are staying should be regularly aired, even when the temperature outside the window is below zero.
At this point it must be said: nothing more, nothing less. Everything we do for ourselves will surely be beneficial for our dog.

Wear warm clothes
Finally, something that sounds like a truism is invariably relevant and surprisingly often marginalized, thus negatively affecting winter immunity. You can also protect yourself from viruses and bacteria from the outside. An insulating layer in the form of warm clothes, a scarf, a hat, gloves and solid shoes is a must-have in the autumn shopping catalog. Without them, protection against viruses and bacteria will be extremely difficult. If an item of clothing is not in your wardrobe, the last moments are ahead of you to fill these gaps. Wear on the layers so that you can easily react to sudden changes in temperature, e.g. by entering a room or bus. Fight against moisture by drying your shoes and clothes every time you come home or work.
Corgi do not require special winter clothing due to the fact that their coat has two layers: an undercoat and a topcoat. Therefore, they are not afraid of rain and frost. Before winter, however, let’s remember about other security features of our four-legged friend, but it was mentioned in the previous article.

Phew, it has accumulated a bit, but as you can see it is not that difficult to take care of your and your dog’s immunity.
Good luck !!!