Baby, It's Cold Outside!
Its cold weather season! For outdoor pets, adopt the following rules to keep them safe during subzero temperatures:
•Provide a shelter to escape the cold that is clean, dry and insulated (garage, shed, kennel)
•Avoid abrupt temperature changes like bringing pets into a heated facility and then back out into the extreme cold as this can put them more at risk for certain infectious diseases
•Keep your pets dry with regular bedding changes, removing wet blankets or covers, and providing a shelter to avoid getting wet in the first place
•Use a heated water container and check it regularly to ensure there is plenty of liquid water available
•Increase feed by about 10-15% in order to help pets tolerate the cold stress
•Take caution with the products you use to help melt ice and snow as they can be irritating to pets’ feet or GI tract when ingested. Look for pet safe salts or avoid use when possible.
•With outdoor cats and wildlife in the area, make sure to tap on your hood before starting the car to make sure they are not cuddling up next to the heat of the engine
•Keep your pet away from lakes and ponds in the area that could have thin ice
Dr. Sarah Myers, Willow Animal Hospital
(photo courtesy of: theforumnewsgroup.com)
