The winter months are creeping up; days in Barnsley are getting shorter, the nights brisker, and our furry friends’ behaviours changing with the weather. Whether your pup prefers to snuggle up indoors away from the cold or loves to play in the snow, their changes in behaviour don’t extend to just activity, but the food they eat too.
You may notice your dog either eating more or less during the change of season, but what do these changes mean, and how can you ensure they stay safe and well-fed during it? In this article, we’ll explain why many dogs’ diets change during the winter, what to do, and how switching to raw dog food in Barnsley can help with the change.
How cold weather affects dogs
The cold weather can affect different dogs in different ways. A husky, for example, can get by with much less of a struggle than a chihuahua. Certain breeds like the St. Bernards are naturally adapted to the cold, whereas others thrive in the warmth. And breed isn’t the only thing affecting cold tolerance. Size, age, thickness of coat, health, and diet all influence a dog’s tolerance to the cold.
It also depends on the temperature you’re dealing with.
In Barnsley and greater South Yorkshire, you can expect to see highs of 7° and lows of 3°, which is tolerable for most dogs. Smaller dogs or dogs with thin coats may require a coat to stay warm.
If temperatures reach 1° to -4°, it may potentially be unsafe for small, thin-haired, elderly, or young dogs. During this range, limit walks and be vigilant for signs of hypothermia.
Anything colder can potentially be life-threatening for dogs, especially if wet. Hypothermia risks increase exponentially, so be extra vigilant here.
Why do dogs eat more during winter?
Many dogs often feel hungrier or eat more in the winter due to a mix of physical needs and evolutionary instincts. Because dogs are so closely related to their ancestors, wolves, many of their evolutionary behaviours have stuck with them. In winter, wolves naturally hunt and consume as much as they can when food is available, as food is sparse and they need to keep an essential extra layer of fat to stay warm.
When the days become shorter, hormonal signals, “survival instincts”, are sent to your dog’s brain, altering their metabolism, prompting them to slow down and consume more calories while they can.
Although most dogs are now kept in climate-controlled environments, their behaviours haven’t changed as much as we think. Dogs are still direct descendants of wolves, so their instinctual traits remain similar.
Why might dogs eat less in winter?
Dogs may eat less during winter for various reasons. One of the biggest reasons is that they undertake less activity, burning fewer calories, meaning they stay fuller for longer and require less food.
Another reason dogs might eat less in Winter is that the temperature can dull senses of smell and taste. The cold winter air and dry indoor heating can dull a dog’s senses, making their food less potent and appealing. This also applies to drinking water, as dogs drink less during winter too.
The cold weather can also cause sensitivity in dogs’ teeth or gums, causing them to avoid hard, dry foods. If you’re noticing your dog’s diet change significantly, or their energy depletes quickly, it might be worth assessing whether their diet gives them the best nutritional value for them during this time of year.
Should you change your dog’s diet in winter?
Winter can affect our dogs’ diets either way; some dogs may eat more, while others eat less. For dogs eating more, their metabolism naturally speeds up, allowing them to regulate their body temperature. For dogs eating less, you may need to cut back on their portion sizes to accommodate their appetite.
The question here isn’t one of quantity, but rather of the quality of the food you feed your dog. You must ensure the quality of the food you give your dog fits their nutritional requirements, especially if they eat less than usual. Their food must support good digestion and be adequately hydrating, for dogs struggling to drink water at this time.
If you feed your dog dry kibble, they can struggle due to the dry nature of the food. There is very little nutritional value in dry food, not to mention how little water it holds.
If you feed your dog wet food from the supermarket, it may be worth looking into the ingredients it offers. Mass-market wet food contains lower-quality meat derivatives, fillers, or binding agents (which include grains or starches, both of which are not essential to a dog’s diet).
Raw dog food in Barnsley
Seeking a better alternative for your dog to thrive during the colder months? Why not try raw feeding? Raw dog food provides dense, bioavailable energy, better hydration, and skin-protecting fats that help dogs cope with cold weather. Here’s why you should try raw feeding:
Better hydration
Raw dog food has a high natural moisture content compared to dry kibble, helping prevent dehydration.
Superior nutrient bioavailability
The unprocessed, raw ingredients retain more native vitamins, minerals, and digestive enzymes. This optimises nutrient absorption and helps support your dog’s immune system during seasonal changes.
Higher energy and calorie density
Some dogs burn extra calories to maintain their core body temperature when it’s cold outside. Raw diets rich in quality animal proteins and natural fats supply a steady, healthy fuel source for dogs.
Easy to store
With raw feeding, you can simply store food in the freezer. Meaning you can bulk buy for the winter months and store what you aren’t serving away!
Why switch to raw feeding?
Genetically, the dog (Canis Lupus Familiaris) is closely related to the grey wolf (Canis Lupus) by 99.8%. Raw feeding directly supports this. If dogs are only 0.2% different to wolves, why do we feed them so differently?
At sure4pets, we support feeding animals with diets that are specific to their species, SARFTM (species-appropriate raw food). Dogs have never needed kibble or ultra-processed wet food, so why do we give it to them? The change in season especially highlights this, as dehydration and nutrient deficiencies would not be an issue for dogs on SARFTM diets.
Interested in switching your dog to a SARFTM diet? Take a look at our selection of raw food, or find out how to smoothly change your dog to a raw food diet.
