Winter can be hard on your four-footed friends. Harsh winter weather brings a wide variety of concerns to responsible pet owners. Pets should not be left outside for long periods of time. This can cause hypothermia or frostbite. The young and senior pets are especially at risk. Here are some tips to ensure that your pets stay healthy and happy throughout the long winter months.  

 

*Salt and Chemical De-Icers

Keep your pet away from road salt. This chemical compound can cause painful burns to an animal’s feet, tongue, and mouth. Salt on your pet’s paws can cause chapped paws which can lead to pain and irritation.   Pain will encourage pets to lick their paws and this ingestion can cause gastrointestinal irritation. Antifreeze is also harmful to your pet. It is attractive to pets and is deadly, even in small amounts.

 

*Paw Care

Keep fur between the pads of the paws short to eliminate ice ball formation. Once ice balls form, they are vey painful and feels like walking on rocks. If you do not feel comfortable trimming your dog’s paws, please come visit us at Bay Animal Hospital, or purchase boots for your pet. You can also apply a small amount of Vaseline or Pam cooking spray to your dog’s paws to avoid ice balls. Be sure to clean your dog’s paws after a winter walk to remove salt and other chemicals.
 

 *Keeping Warm
Do not use heat lamps, space heaters, or other devices not approved for use with animals. It can be a burn hazard and fire hazard for your pet.   Outdoor pets need a sheltered place that is well bedded with dry straw, shavings, blankets, or other insulated material that traps warm air. Animals drag a lot of moisture into their bedding areas from snow, rain, and mud. Check it often and change it when necessary or your pets cannot keep themselves warm. To avoid accumulated moisture, elevate your dog’s house. A heating mat or heated bed purchased from a pet store is also a good idea for pets to sleep on and can be used in a dog house. Hot water bottles are the safest form of direct heat for your pet to snuggle up to on a cold winter’s day.

 

*Outdoor Cat Safety

Most cats prefer to spend winter indoors, but be cautious if your cat likes being outside. Outdoor cats often seek warmth in the car engine of a recently used vehicle. The cat can be seriously injured or even killed by the fan blade or belt.   This can be avoided if your cat has a safe warm place to go when it is bitterly cold.

 

*Nutrition

Outdoor pets require additional food for energy and maintaining body heat. Working breeds, such as Huskies and Malamutes, need a more calorie dense diet. Active dogs need as much water, or even more, in the winter than they do in the summer. Make sure that outside water supplies do not freeze. A heated dish can be purchased from a pet store which keeps your pet’s water from freezing, yet keeps it cold.