Whether you live in a cold place, or are visiting a cold place for some time, you should take some precautions for your pet’s safety.
If you have an outdoor cat, be aware that in the winter, it might sleep under a car for warmth. This can be very hazardous if the car starts and the fan belt goes on. If there are many stray or outdoor cats in your neighborhood, you can make sure to bang on the hood of your car to scare it away, before you start your car’s engine.
If you are walking your dog in an intense snowstorm, do not let it off the leash. It’s very easy for the dog to get lost, as the snow can be disorienting and make it lose its sense of smell outside. More dogs are lost in the winter time than in any other season, so be sure to have the ID tags properly secured on its collar.
If you take your dog out into the snow, sleet or ice, be sure to wipe it off on the legs, feet and stomach when it comes indoors. The salt that people put out on the ground is dangerous for dog feet, as it can cut the pads and cause bleeding. If your dog licks the salt or some antifreeze while licking its paws, this can be very dangerous. A lot of dog owners are getting into dog booties so that they can avoid this problem (not just because it looks cute!).
Try to let your dog’s winter coat grow. Trimming is ok, but not shave it down to its skin. If you give your dog a bath when it’s cold out, make sure it is completely dry before you take it outdoors. If you have a short-haired dog, it might be a good idea to invest in a sweater.
Do not leave your dog or cat in the car when it’s really cold out. Cars can trap in cold air and this can be fatal.
If you use antifreeze, make sure it’s completely out of reach from cats and dogs. If your vehicle spills it out, thoroughly clean it up. You should use products with propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol.
Puppies are not as good in the cold as adult dogs. Their fur is not as thick, and their feet have not been as calloused. They can be more difficult to house break during the winter months. Older dogs may also be less tolerant to cold weather, so if you have a really old dog, only take it outside to go to the bathroom.
This was a great article. I had most of these facts, but you provided a few I didn’t. Here’s a piece of useful info. that I’m putting in the pet-related newsletter I write for my friend’s Grooming salon customers. This is a great product. I already put
a link for it on our local Humane Society’s website.
Paw Choice is the environment and pet friendly solution perfect for any home and/or business. Because it contains 33% fewer chlorides than other ice melters, Paw Choice is better for people, pets and concrete. Effective at melting ice in temperatures as low as -13˚F (-25˚C), Paw Choice melts snow and ice within 15 minutes of application. You can have confidence in the safety of your pets, your concrete and your landscaping knowing that Paw Choice contains the same mineral supplements used in most farm animal feedstock. http://www.rimicemelter.com or 1-888-RIM-ONLY (746-6659)
Also, I always provide this info. to help pet owners since pets can be poisoned even when we’re very careful ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center (1-888-4 ANI-HELP).
Thanks for the great info. Keep up the good work.
I’ll echo the warning about cats sleeping under cars during the winter from experience; always beep the horn, clap, or bang the hood to make sure there aren’t any stray cats curled up some place under the car. It’s no fun for you or the cat to be surprised in these situations.
Another thing to consider is dogs venturing out onto frozen lakes etc. Not only is the risk of drowning there but a dog can easily break a leg or rip a tendon when his legs go sprawling.
I’ve seen this happen to one of our pets. Tendon and ligament injuries can take a long time to heal!!