It’s Doggone Cold! 10 Ways to Protect Your Pet:
Source: ASPCA
It's getting colder. Soon you'll be bundling up just to get the mail. Here are some friendly tips to make sure your furry companion stays warm and safe this winter.
Keep cats indoors. You may let them wander during the spring and summer months, but in the cold of winter they are more likely to freeze, become lost or stolen, or get injured or killed. Plus, they can be exposed to infectious diseases, like rabies, from other animals.
Just because you’re a responsible pet owner who doesn’t leave your cat outside in the cold, other pet owners in your neighborhood still might. (Or the cats can get out accidentally, of course.) Be cautious when starting up your car in the morning. Bang on the hood of your car to scare any cats out who may be hiding in the wheel well. Better to scare them now than injure them in the fan belt.
Dog lovers, take heed: More dogs become lost during the winter months than during any other season. On the snow and ice, a dog can easily lose any scents that let it know where it is. So keep your dogs on leashes at all times, and make sure they are wearing ID tags.
Dry your puppy off when he comes in from the snow, sleet, or ice. Thoroughly wipe off his stomach, legs, and paws. It may just seem like harmless water, but unfortunately that water can also contain harmful chemicals that your dog can ingest while licking its paws or fur. Also, ice or snow could cause their paw pads to bleed.
Antifreeze is poisonous—and lethal—for dogs and cats. Always clean up any spills from around and under your vehicle, and consider using products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol. Check the
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center website for more.
Just like you put on an extra layer when you go outside in winter, your doggie needs some insulation, too. If you’re getting them groomed (or doing it yourself, you adventurous individual, you), never shave them down to the skin. If you have a dog that is naturally hairless or has a very short coat, it may be necessary to get him a little jacket or sweater to wear outside. Seriously. It may look goofy, but just remember: dogs can get pneumonia, and it can be fatal. When washing your dog, always dry them off completely before taking them outside in the winter.
I’m sure you know how bad it is to leave a dog or cat inside the car during the summer, but did you know it’s also dangerous during the winter? Just as a hot car can act as an oven, a cold one can be like a refrigerator. It’s possible for an animal to freeze to death if left unattended in a vehicle.
Puppies may be difficult to housebreak during the winter, as they don’t tolerate cold weather as well as adult dogs do. If you’re trying to housebreak a puppy in the winter, you may consider paper-training inside, instead. If your dog is sensitive to cold weather for other reasons, just take him outdoors to relieve himself only.
If you have an active dog that is used to running around outdoors—and you don’t have the room for him to run inside—increase his food supply, especially proteins, to keep him and his fur in good shape.
You wouldn’t want to sleep on the floor in the middle of December, would you? So make sure your pet, whatever their species, has a warm place to sleep, too. They should be up off the floor and away from all drafts. If you can give them a cozy dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow to sleep on, or under, that’s ideal.
