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Brrrr…it’s cold outside! The following guidelines will help
you protect your companion animals when the mercury dips.
1.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.
2.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.
3.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.
4.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.
5.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.
6.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.
7.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.
8.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.
9.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.
10.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. |
