Keep Your Dog or Cat Warm with a Heated Pet
Keep Your Dog or Cat Warm with a Heated Pet MatI have a Beagle named Sandy who spent the first three years of her life as an indoor animal. But soon after my son was born, we discovered that he had a severe allergy to dog hair and dander, so we faced a very tough decision. Rather than take our beloved pooch to a shelter or confine her to a kennel, we decided to move her outside. We built a nice dog run that's shielded from the sun, wind, and rain, we put a sturdy wood house out there for her, and we even threw in a heated pet mat to keep her nice and toasty during the winter nights. So far, things have been working out just great!
Fortunately, I live in an area that doesn't get very cold in winter. The temperature rarely dips into freezing territory, so Sandy is plenty hardy enough to withstand outdoor living, especially since she has a cozy bed and a heated pet mat to sleep on. Plus, I check the weather report every night, and if it looks like it's going to be too cold or blustery, I let Sandy come inside until daylight. But that has happened only a handful of times in the few years that the dog has been living outside, because really, having the heated pet mat out on the bed is sufficient.
When we were shopping for heated pet mats, we had several options to choose from. Most of the products seem to be aimed at indoor pets, since they came with cords that had to be plugged into electrical outlets. We didn't want to deal with wires of any kind because Sandy likes to chew stuff, and we felt that a cord would just be too tempting to her. But these heated pet mats had temperature controls and everything, and would be perfect for use in garages or basements, so I'd definitely recommend checking them out if you keep your dog or cat in those cooler areas.
There are other heated pet mats that don't rely on a constant supply of electricity to keep your animal warm. For instance, the product we ended up buying is a round disc, about eight inches in diameter, with a hard shell made of polypropylene. All we do is heat it up in the microwave for about 6 minutes, slip it into the soft cover that was included, and put it in Sandy's bed. This heated pet mat stays warm for up to 12 hours, which is more than enough to get through the night. It can be reheated as often as necessary, but with daily use the manufacturer suggests purchasing a new one after three years.
Anyway, if you're looking for a way to keep your beloved dog or cat toasty warm during cold weather, then heated pet mats are your answer. They're affordable, durable, and they really work!
