Here is Part Two of my series about keeping pets safe in colder weather. Part Three will be a post about keeping pets safe around the holidays.
1. Don't shave your pet in the winter. They need their coats to stay warm!
2. If your pet gets cold despite having a full coat (not uncommon), consider using a coat or sweater. Not all animals like to wear clothing, so it's important to get them used to it gradually. Put on the coat, give them a treat, and take it off. Gradually increase the length of time your pet is wearing the coat, and always pair it with something particularly yummy, to create a good association -- putting on the coat predicts a delicious treat!
3. Consider booties for your dog to protect his or her feet from snow and ice. As with coats, make sure to gradually get your dog used to wearing them.
4. Sick or older pets are particularly sensitive to the cold. Make sure they are only outside when absolutely necessary, and provide them with warm, comfy places to sleep.
5. De-icing and ice melting products can be toxic. Be sure to keep them sealed and out of the reach of your pets.
6. Vehicles can act as a refrigerator in cold weather by holding the cold inside. Be very cautious about leaving your pets in your vehicle during cold weather.
7. Pets can lose scent in snow and ice and get lost -- make sure your pet has identification, such as tags and a tattoo and/or microchip so that if he or she gets lost, it is easier for them to be reunited with you.
8. If your pet is out in the cold and starts to shiver or shake, get them back into a warm sheltered place immediately. If you suspect hypothermia, contact your vet immediately.
9. Beware of frozen lakes and ponds -- they are not always frozen all the way through, and pets can fall through the ice.
10. Arthritis is worse in cold and damp weather, so if you suspect your pet has arthritis, see your vet. Take special care to handle a pet with arthritis (or suspected arthritis) gently, avoid icy walks, provide soft and warm bedding, and give any medications that your vet prescribes.
11. Be careful of having portable heaters -- they can be a hazard. Pets can burn themselves or knock the heaters over, risking a fire.
12. Dogs should not be riding unsecured in the backs of pickup trucks at the best of times -- it is unsafe and is often contrary to local laws. In colder weather, it is particularly dangerous, due to the possibility of wind chill and the slippery conditions in the bed of the truck. And think about how you would feel, standing on cold metal in the cold!
Keep your pets safe and warm and healthy during the colder weather; they are part of the family!
Showing posts with label cold weather. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cold weather. Show all posts
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Tips for Colder Weather - Part One
It's that time of year when the weather starts to get colder, the snow may be starting to fall, and our animals need us to make sure they are safe. Here is the first part of a series of posts with some tips for the colder weather that seems to have already arrived!
1. Dogs and cats belong indoors with the family, in my opinion. This is true all year, but especially during colder weather. Although they have fur coats, most dogs and cats are not able to keep themselves at a comfortable and safe temperature when left out in the elements. If it's too cold out for you to be comfortable outside without a big coat, don't leave your pets outside!
2. Pets need more calories in the winter to ward off the cold. Increase your pet's food ration accordingly, especially if your pet engages in a lot of outdoor activities.
3. Pets also need access to fresh and unfrozen water, which can be a challenge this time of year. Check your pet's water dish twice a day to make sure that the water isn't frozen. And if you must have your pets outside (which I don't recommend), a heated water dish is a must.
4. If there is deep snow (and deep is defined by your dog's size), consider shoveling out a potty area for your dog to use. Think of how awful it would be to have to potty in the snow up to your...ahem...potty parts. :)
5. Antifreeze is a chemical that tastes sweet to animals, so be sure that there are no puddles or drops of it around your driveway or garage. They are likely to ingest it, and this can be fatal.
6. The salt and other chemicals that are used on our roads can be dangerous to pets. At the very least, they can irritate the pads of their feet; at worst, they can lick it off, which can cause digestive upset (or even worse).
7. Cats and wildlife often will take refuge in and around warm engines. If you keep your vehicle outside, make sure you bang on the hood before starting it, to make sure there are no animals trying to keep warm inside.
8. Puppies are particularly vulnerable to the cold, and they might not be able to relieve themselves outdoors in the winter. Make sure your pups (or kittens) are only outside with you, so you can monitor how they are coping with the cold and the weather conditions. And if your pup doesn't tolerate the cold or the weather conditions, consider potty training indoors until spring.
9. Remember that tile and uncarpeted areas can get quite cold, as can basements. Help your pet out by providing a warm place to sleep -- blankets and beds are very cozy. Also make sure that they are out of the way of drafts.
10. If your dog has to spend time outside, make sure he or she has proper shelter from the weather and the cold. You can do this by getting a dog house that is big enough to stand up in, and that allows the dog to stretch out and turn around. You want the house to be the proper size so that the body heat of the dog will be retained in the structure, so don't get one that is too oversized. Dog houses should have a wind flap on the door and non-porous bedding such as straw to help them keep warm. But remember that dogs are social animals and are much happier in the house with the family!
I will post some further tips for the season in a couple of days. Yes, really, I will! Keep your pets safe this winter, and remember that if it's too cold for you, it's too cold for your pets.
1. Dogs and cats belong indoors with the family, in my opinion. This is true all year, but especially during colder weather. Although they have fur coats, most dogs and cats are not able to keep themselves at a comfortable and safe temperature when left out in the elements. If it's too cold out for you to be comfortable outside without a big coat, don't leave your pets outside!
2. Pets need more calories in the winter to ward off the cold. Increase your pet's food ration accordingly, especially if your pet engages in a lot of outdoor activities.
3. Pets also need access to fresh and unfrozen water, which can be a challenge this time of year. Check your pet's water dish twice a day to make sure that the water isn't frozen. And if you must have your pets outside (which I don't recommend), a heated water dish is a must.
4. If there is deep snow (and deep is defined by your dog's size), consider shoveling out a potty area for your dog to use. Think of how awful it would be to have to potty in the snow up to your...ahem...potty parts. :)
5. Antifreeze is a chemical that tastes sweet to animals, so be sure that there are no puddles or drops of it around your driveway or garage. They are likely to ingest it, and this can be fatal.
6. The salt and other chemicals that are used on our roads can be dangerous to pets. At the very least, they can irritate the pads of their feet; at worst, they can lick it off, which can cause digestive upset (or even worse).
7. Cats and wildlife often will take refuge in and around warm engines. If you keep your vehicle outside, make sure you bang on the hood before starting it, to make sure there are no animals trying to keep warm inside.
8. Puppies are particularly vulnerable to the cold, and they might not be able to relieve themselves outdoors in the winter. Make sure your pups (or kittens) are only outside with you, so you can monitor how they are coping with the cold and the weather conditions. And if your pup doesn't tolerate the cold or the weather conditions, consider potty training indoors until spring.
9. Remember that tile and uncarpeted areas can get quite cold, as can basements. Help your pet out by providing a warm place to sleep -- blankets and beds are very cozy. Also make sure that they are out of the way of drafts.
10. If your dog has to spend time outside, make sure he or she has proper shelter from the weather and the cold. You can do this by getting a dog house that is big enough to stand up in, and that allows the dog to stretch out and turn around. You want the house to be the proper size so that the body heat of the dog will be retained in the structure, so don't get one that is too oversized. Dog houses should have a wind flap on the door and non-porous bedding such as straw to help them keep warm. But remember that dogs are social animals and are much happier in the house with the family!
I will post some further tips for the season in a couple of days. Yes, really, I will! Keep your pets safe this winter, and remember that if it's too cold for you, it's too cold for your pets.
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