As autumn beds in, there’s a lot to consider when it comes to thinking of your animals’ wellbeing.

Bonfire Night

Let’s start with bonfire celebrations… whilst this is an exciting time of year; for frightened animals they may spend hours bracing their bodies – pacing, trembling, looking for an escape. This bracing or muscle guarding can increase the risk of injury and put a lot of strain on the body.

Ensure you check how your animals have coped the following morning.

For dogs, look for stiffness when rising, flinching when touched or stroked along their back and resistance to activities such as stair climbing, jumping onto/off furniture and into and out of the car.

For horses, check legs for heat, swelling, cuts etc. monitor their posture and sensitivity along their back or necks.

There is also a strong link between noise sensitivity and pre-existing musculoskeletal injuries (Lopes Fagundes et al., 2018), so if your dog or horse has suddenly become more reactive to noise, it may be worth them having a physical check over.

Exercise in the colder months

Are the darker nights limiting outdoor exercise for your dog?

Use enrichment activities such as scatter feeding, treat searches, snuffle mats and kongs to increase their mental stimulation or try incorporate some indoor exercises such as isometric exercises like simple side bends on a foam pad.

Try to maintain a consistent exercise regime as much as you can though as this can help to maintain muscle mass and general fitness!

Shelter and feeding

Is your horse likely to be spending longer in a stable than you or they would like over winter?

Ensure you have multiple feeding locations at variable heights to mimic natural grazing and browsing behaviour and encourage a little more movement around the stable. Use slow feeders and small holed nets to ensure they have sufficient forage to keep their tummies full all night

The cold, damp months ahead can also increase inflammation in joints affected by arthritis so be sure to use coats/rugs where needed.

Enjoy getting cosy with your animals. :)