As a long-time dog breeder and pet owner, one of the saddest and most infuriating things I have witnessed is negligent pet owners not providing a warm environment for their pets when winter temperatures dip below freezing. Most owners profess ignorance when a pet dies or almost dies due to exposure to freezing temps and other winter-related hazards, so these tips will help all pet owners become more aware of winter-time dangers to their pets.
Bring Them In
Bring outdoor pets to some type of indoor enclosure when temperatures threaten to dip below the freezing mark. If bringing them inside of your home is not feasible, create a warm bedding enclosure for them inside a heated garage, storage shed or on the front porch.
Water Bowl
Prevent outdoor water bowls from freezing by re-locating them to an enclosed area, like a garage, where temps will stay above freezing and water won't turn into a chunk of ice. Water bowl heaters can be purchased to keep the pet's water from freezing too.
Under the Car Hood
Cats like to climb under the car hood and snuggle up to a warm engine during cold weather. Check under your car's hood before cranking the engine to make sure that a feline is not fast asleep on the engine block.
Anti-Freeze Caution
Obviously more anti-freeze is poured into vehicles during cold weather, which in turn increases the risk of a few drops being spilled on the garage floor or in the driveway. A few drops is all it takes to kill a dog or cat. Dogs love the sweet flavor of anti-freeze and will eagerly lap it up from the floor. Cats are finicky and usually will turn up their whiskered noses at the liquid, however, they may walk through spilled anti-freeze and later lick it off their fur during grooming and ingest enough to kill them.
Paw Inspection
After a walk, inspect your dog's paws for ice balls or ice-cut paw pads. Rinse paws to remove salt and other de-icer products that he may have walked through and treat and pad abrasions before they become infected.
Pet Clothes
Smaller breed dogs and hairless cat and dog breeds need a layer of clothing during cold winter to help keep them warm. This is especially true when taking them outdoors for a walk.
Arthritis Alert
Arthritis affects canines in the same way it does humans - the colder the temperature, the more the malady hurts. If your dog seems to be slow and stiff first things in the morning, it's a sign of arthritis (or worsening arthritis if the diagnosis has been made) and a visit to the veterinarian to discuss treatment options is in order.
Source:
Humane Society
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