Use these tips to keep your pets safe and warm this winter:
- Be prepared – talk to us about your pet’s risks in cold weather.
- If you leave your car outside, tap on the hood and honk the horn before starting the engine.
- Clean up antifreeze spills – a tiny amount can be deadly to animals. If you suspect your pet has ingested antifreeze, contact us immediately.
- For outside activities, if your dog has a short coat or seems bothered by the cold, consider a sweater or dog coat.
- If you walk your dogs on very cold or wet days, consider using booties. Wipe down or wash your pet’s feet, legs and belly to remove de-icing chemicals.
- When the weather goes below freezing, bring your cats and dogs inside, or make sure they have adequate shelter which shields them from wind, moisture and cold. Pet stores carry safe heated floor mats or deeply bedded straw is a good insulator. Do not use a heat lamp or other type of home heater.
- Pets need fresh water at all times – make sure that water is not frozen.
- Cold, damp weather aggravates arthritis. If your pet is having trouble getting up or laying down, a visit to the veterinarian is in order. There are many types of treatments available. Don’t medicate your dog or cat with human pain medications without discussing it with us first. One Tylenol tablet, for instance, can be fatal to a cat.
- As in summer, don’t leave your pet unattended in a vehicle.