Brrrr…it’s cold outside! The following guidelines will help you protect your companion animals when the mercury dips.
- Keep your cat inside. Outdoors, felines can freeze,
become lost or be stolen, injured or killed. Cats who are allowed to stray
are exposed to infectious diseases, including rabies, from other cats,
dogs and wildlife.
- During the winter, outdoor cats sometimes sleep under
the hoods of cars. When the motor is started, the cat can be injured or
killed by the fan belt. If there are outdoor cats in your area, bang
loudly on the car hood before starting the engine to give the cat a chance
to escape.
- Never let your dog off the leash on snow or ice,
especially during a snowstorm—dogs can lose their scent and easily become
lost. More dogs are lost during the winter than during any other season,
so make sure yours always wears ID tags.
- Thoroughly wipe off your dog's legs and stomach when he
comes in out of the sleet, snow or ice. He can ingest salt, antifreeze or
other potentially dangerous chemicals while licking his paws, and his paw
pads may also bleed from snow or encrusted ice.
- Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter, as a
longer coat will provide more warmth. When you bathe your dog in the
colder months, be sure to completely dry him before taking him out for a
walk. Own a short-haired breed? Consider getting him a coat or sweater
with a high collar or turtleneck with coverage from the base of the tail
to the belly. For many dogs, this is regulation winter wear.
- Never leave your dog or cat alone in a car during cold
weather. A car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the
cold and causing the animal to freeze to death.
- Puppies do not tolerate the cold as well as adult dogs,
and may be difficult to housebreak during the winter. If your puppy
appears to be sensitive to the weather, you may opt to paper-train him
inside. If your dog is sensitive to the cold due to age, illness or breed
type, take him outdoors only to relieve himself.
- Does your dog spend a lot of time engaged in outdoor
activities? Increase his supply of food, particularly protein, to keep
him—and his fur—in tip-top shape.
- Like coolant, antifreeze is a lethal poison for dogs
and cats. Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle, and
consider using products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene
glycol. Visit the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center more information.
- Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to
sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A cozy dog or cat bed with
a warm blanket or pillow is perfect.