Keeping Pets Safe as Temperatures Drop

Our furry friends are particularly vulnerable around this time of year. Here are some tips for how to keep them safe, warm and happy as temperatures drop and snowflakes fall.

• Bathe your pet as little as possible during cold spells
  • Increases chances of dry, flaky skin
  • Constant change from the cold to the dry heat of your home can exacerbate itchy/flaky skin
  • Use a humidifier
  • Bathe as little as possible
• Salt
  • Make sure they wear booties
  • Wipe off any salt when they come indoors — make sure to check your pet’s tummy, too
  • Remove ice, salt and caked mud from your pets’ paws/coats immediately
• Pets burn more energy in the winter trying to stay warm
  • Ask vet if they should consume extra calories
  • Monitor your pets’ weight
    • Some pets need less food because they are less active in the winter
    • Some pets need additional food because they are burning more calories to stay warm
    • Ensure that all pets have access to fresh water and it’s not frozen
• If it’s too cold for you … it’s probably too cold for your pet
  • Don’t leave them outside, etc.
• Before walks, apply Vaseline or doggie shoes on your pets’ paws
• Make sure the pet bed is not in a cold/drafty area
• Watch for signs of hypothermia
  • Weak pulse
  • Dilated pupils
  • Decreased heart rate
  • Extreme shivering
  • Pale/blue mucous membranes
  • Stupor/unconsciousness
• Check under your hood/honk your horn before starting your vehicle to ensure no stray animals are around your engine
• Keep pets away from anywhere anti-freeze may be stored or leaking — it is extremely toxic
• Avoid iced over ponds/lakes
  • If a pet falls through the ice, it is potentially deadly

   

If you follow these simple safety tips this winter, you and your pets will be grateful.