As the central west shivers through a series of icy cold blasts and inclement weather this winter, spare a thought for companion animals doing it tough in the region – particularly those that remain outdoors.  

Social media groups have fielded requests for donations of bedding from local individuals and families struggling to keep their outdoor pets warm as winter progresses. 

Narromine Shire Council has also requested donations of unwanted clean blankets and or animal bedding for use at its animal shelter to help keep surrendered, stray and lost pets warm during the colder weather. 

Companion animals such as dogs and cats do feel the cold and are impacted by it in a similar way to humans, according to the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA).  

"Being out in the cold makes our bodies work harder to keep warm. This means that any animal that is sick or old will have a tougher time in cold weather,” an AVA spokesperson said. 

“In animals we can see cold weather affect their respiratory systems – with asthma and breathing problems worsened, but the most common cold-weather disease we see is arthritis. Arthritis affects both dogs and cats and is mostly caused by a lack of movement. 

“Just like we like to stay under the covers on a cold morning – pets are less active when the weather is chilly. This causes joints to stiffen up and arthritis to feel worse. It's important to keep your regular walks up even on those cold days.” 

Companion animals are resistant to most human diseases and are not at risk of catching the “common cold” from their owners during periods of cold or inclement weather. However, the AVA says that companion animals do have their own flu-like diseases that can spread dog-to-dog or cat-to-cat.  

PHOTO: This dog is dressed for cool weather. 

“These are easy to prevent through vaccination, so if your dog or cat likes to socialise – especially indoors in cold weather – then make sure they are vaccinated against ‘kennel cough’ or ‘cat flu’ whether or not they do spend time at boarding kennels,” the spokesperson said. 

Recognising that not everyone is able to bring their pets indoors during the cold weather, the Western Plains App asked the AVA what residents could do to best help their pets during these times.  

“Keep them dry. Anybody who has been outside in bad weather knows that it is better to be dry and cold rather than wet and cold,” the AVA spokesperson said. 

“An insulated kennel can stay really warm if you make sure there are no draughts. You can also add insulation lining and blankets to make it even more cosy.   

“Blankets and jackets can be effective – just make sure that you check them daily for any rubbing or hair loss in case they are too tight.” 

PHOTO: Ducks swim all year round. Do they ever feel the cold when the temperatures drop? If only they could tell us... 

The AVA also indicated that pets use up more energy during cold weather and may need extra feeding during the colder months. 

“Their regular vet can give you advice on just how much to feed without putting on too much winter weight,” the spokesperson said.