ASPCA's Cold Weather Tips

 

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.