5 Top Wintertime Pet Safety Tips
Winter has arrived fur friends! With so many things to look forward to this season (big cozy sweaters, hot cocoa, the Holidays!) it is important to remember that when the weather outside is frightful, our pets could also be at risk! The winter months, while beautiful and full of fun activities, also bring severe temperature drops, darker days, snow storms, and ice! Here are our 5 Top Wintertime Pet Safety Tips to keep your pets happy and safe this winter.
Know Their Cold Limits
Hypothermia and frostbite pose major risks to dogs in the winter. So, even if your pup loves the snow and being outside, a short-coated or thin-coated pooch is more susceptible to the cold than other thicker coated dogs. You may want to consider a doggy-sweater or coat to help keep them warm if you are going to be outdoors with your pooch for longer than a few minutes. Additionally, elderly pups, small or thin dogs, or dogs with other medical conditions may be at risk in colder weather due to being unable to regulate their body temperature normally. Make sure you know what your pups can handle and how long they can stand being outside in freezing temperatures.
Wipe Their Paws
Walks with your pooch don’t stop just because it is winter! However, wintertime often brings with it various chemical substances used to aid us two-legged folk in handling winter conditions, such as salt and anti-freeze.. Thus, it is very important to remember to wipe off your dogs paws after you return from your walks before they have the opportunity to lick it all off themselves. If you live in a bigger city where a lot of these substances are difficult to avoid, you can always look into puppy slippers or paw covers to help your pups feet on walks. Be mindful of any cracks or sores in their feet and seek Veterinarian attention if you find any!
Leave Them Home
Just like a hot car is dangerous for our pets, a cold car in the winter can pose just as much of a threat to our fuzzy friends left inside. An idle-sitting car can cool down rapidly in sub-zero weather. Pets that are old, ill, very young, thin or short-coated are more susceptible to cold environments like your car in the winter. It is better to leave them at home in the warmth if they don’t have to come with you on shorter errands, or bring them with you out of the car if possible.
Provide Proper Shelter
We don’t recommend keeping any pet outside for long periods of time in sub-zero temperatures. But, if you are unable to keep your dog inside during the winter, or your pooch is a long-haired or thick-coated breed, such as Huskies that are bred for colder climates, make sure they have the proper shelters. Shelters should be dry and draft-free, large enough to allow them to sit and lay down, but small enough to conserve body heat. The floor should be raised a few inches off the ground and covered with cedar shards or straw. Turn your pups shelter so that it faces away from the wind and cover the entryway with a waterproof material.
Avoid Ice
In the summer months your pup may love playing in or near the water, and love taking walks out to a pond or a lake. However, in the wintertime these favorite spots could actually pose life threatening circumstances for you and your furry friend. When it comes to frozen ponds, lakes and other bodies of water, you really can’t tell if the ice will support your dogs weight. This fun winter walk could quickly turn deadly for you both. It is best to avoid ice and large bodies of frozen water for your day or evening walks with your best friend.
Last, but not least, have fun!
What other winter weather safety precautions do you take for your pets? Let us know!
