Winter Tips
| Antifreeze
can be deadly. Its sweet taste attracts animals. Even a small puddle
of antifreeze can kill or seriously injury a cat or dog. |
| Caustic chemicals used to melt snow and ice can irritate and burn the pads of their feet. Do not allow your pet to lick its feet - the chemicals can burn their mouth and can cause serious problems if ingested. Always wipe their paws with a moist cloth. Use Safe Paws A non-toxic ice melter for your walks. |
| A
warm engine in a parked car often attracts cats that are left outside
on cold nights. On a cold morning, be sure to bang on the hood before
starting the engine to scare off unsuspecting felines. Or better yet-
blow the horn. |
| While No dog should be left outside when the temperature drops sharply, dogs that often stay outside require a draft-free water tight shelter A dog house should be no more than 12 longer or 3 inches higher than the dog, because the animals body heat cannot warm the dog house which is to large. The floor should be raised a few inches off the ground and be covered with cedar shavings, which control parasites as well as help to retain the pets skin oil. Dry, shredded newspaper is also acceptable, but must be checked often. Dogs that spend time outdoors in winter need more food as keeping warm depletes energy. Use plastic or ceramic pans as the metal can cause their lips to freeze and tear. And remember water freezes quite in very cold temperature- make sure your pet has fresh water Remember - when it really cold- bring them in & remember they have feeling too and need attention from humans even if they are outside. |
| Snowballs between the toes from packed snow can be very painful. They can even obstruct the blood flow to the toes. Be sure to clean them. |
| If you have an arthritic pet- get a orthopedic bed for them. Or place a hot water bottle next to them.
|
| Have a wood burning stove - or kerosene heater?? Keep you pet away!!!! Use cans of pennies if needed but do not allow them near these. |
| Never let your dog off his leash in snow or ice, especially during a snowstorm. Snow can obscure familiar scents, and canines can become lost. |
| Keep your cats inside. Outdoors, felines can easily freeze, become lost or be stolen, injured or killed. |
| Do not leave your dog or cat alone in a vehicle during the winter months. A car can act as a refrigerator, holding in the cold, and cause an animal to freeze to death. |
| Bang loudly on the hood of your car before getting in. Cats often sleep under the hoods of vehicles in search of warmth, and can be injured or killed by the fan belt when the engine is started up. |
| Normal cat temperature ranges from 99.5 to 102.5 degrees F, but cold weather can drop body temperature to deadly levels. A twenty mile-per-hour wind makes forty-degree weather feel like 18 degrees. Cats suffering severe hypothermia lose their "shiver" reflex when body temperature falls below 90 degrees. These cats die without emergency care. |
NEVER NEVER leave a dog or cat or any animal in a car in the summer- Not for even 5 minutes, even with the windows part way down. In a few minutes- with the windows cracked - the temperatures can reach 150 to 160 degrees on a hot afternoon. At 80 degrees outside it is 110 degrees inside within 10 minutes. At 90 degrees outside it is 160 degrees inside within 10 minutes. A dog and cat pant to perspire. Inside a hot car the proper evaporation cannot occur. The results - they suffocate. It can cause permanent brain damage and death. If you see this in a parked area - Please report it immediately. Altho the owner may not thank you. The pet will. |
At home- if the dog is kept outside - Make sure it has a fresh supply of water AT ALL TIMES. Keep it in a shady place out of the sun. And make sure there is ventilation. A hot garage will not have ventilation. Older dogs drink more water than younger ones. You may want to throw in a few ice cubes. A wading pool is another good source for you pet to cool off. When it is very hot a pet should not be left outside at all. Remember: If you would be uncomfortable in your pet's situation - so is he. |
Exercise- Do not exercise a pet on a very hot day. If you go for a walk with Fido - make sure that the pavement is not to hot as to burn their pads. If it burns your feet it will his too. Also they drink alot in hot weather. Give them small amounts more frequently and do not let them drink alot at a time when exercising as this can cause bloating in some breeds and is very dangerous. |
If you notice your pet panting wildly- he could be having heat stroke. Wrap towels wrung out in cold water or tepid water around him or turn the hose on him(make sure the hose water is not hot) and get him to the vet Immediately. Do not use ice water as that can been dangerous also. Cool down gradually. |
| Older dogs and those with heart or lung proplems should be kept inside in air conditioning. They are more susceptible to heat exhaustion. |
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