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.
(taken from the ASPCA)
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