Cold Weather Pet Care
Cold weather can be as hard on pets as it can be on people, and depending upon the age and breed of your pet, extremes in temperatures can prove life threatening to both dogs and cats in certain circumstances. There are steps one can take to keep a pet warm and safe in the winter.
- Have your pet checked up prior to winter kicking in. Your vet can spot any medical issues that might make your pet vulnerable to the cold.
- If you live near a pond or lake, be cautious about letting your dog off leash. Because animals can easily fall through the ice, if you must let your dogs loose near open water, stay with them at all times.
- Keep your pet inside as much as possible, especially when the temperature drops. If your pet must be outside, a good rule of thumb is to stay outside with them. When you get cold, most likely your pet is cold as well and it is time to get them inside. Hypothermia and frostbite in pets is not uncommon. An animal's ears, paws and tail are particularly vulnerable. As symptoms can show up days after exposure, take your pet immediately to your veterinarian should you suspect frostbite or hypothermia.
- Symptoms of cold
can be whining, shivering, appearing anxious, slowing down, stopping movement, looking for places to burrow - similar symptoms that might occur in humans if they had prolonged exposure to the cold.
- Pets that go outdoors can pick up rock salt, ice and chemical ice melts in their foot pads. Wiping your pet's pads with a clean washcloth when they come inside is advised as some deicers are toxic when ingested.
- Exposure to antifreeze can be deadly. Both dogs and cats are attracted to the sweet smell and taste of antifreeze. Antifreeze is highly toxic, rapidly absorbed and ingestion often produces a high mortality rate. Kidney failure within 12-14 hours is not uncommon in cats and 26-72 hours post ingestion for dogs. Successful treatment depends on quick treatment. If you suspect your pet has ingested Ethylene Glycol, contact your vet immediately. NOTE: A safe alternative to Ethylene Glycol is Propylene Glycol. Better yet, make certain all spills are cleaned up at once and all containers are tightly closed and stored where pets cannot get into them.
- Rat and mouse killers are more commonly used during colder weather. If you must use these items, place the products in areas that are inaccessible to your pets as once ingested, these products can cause internal bleeding. If you suspect your pet has ingested rat or mouse poison, call your veterinarian immediately.
- Pets need to have fresh water at all times - make sure your outdoor pet water bowl is not frozen over during this time of year. Heated pet water bowls are a solution during freezing temperatures.
- Arthritis in dogs and cats (especially older pets) is exacerbated during winter months. There are natural and medicinal treatments for pets with arthritis. Your vet can assist you with finding the right one.
- Holiday foods can also pose a threat to your pet's health. Foods your pet should avoid include alcoholic beverages; chocolate (any time of the year); coffee grounds/beans/chocolate covered espresso beans; moldy or spoiled foods; onions/onion powder; salt; yeast dough, etc.
- Holiday plants to avoid are: lilies; poinsettias; mistletoe; and holly.
- Christmas tree hazards are: Christmas tree water; electric cords; ribbons or tinsel; batteries; glass ornaments; potpourris.
- Items to consider making winter more comfortable for your pet include pet safe ice melt; pet boots; I.D. tags; sweaters/jackets; heated pet beds; heated water bowl.
