Winter Safety Tips for Pets
Colder weather can be fun, but it’s important to make sure that you are considering your pets comfort and safety during these cold and snowy months. There are some pets such as Siberian huskies, newfoundland, and Great Pyrenees who thrive in the cooler winter months while many others need special considerations and limited time outside.
Limit outdoor time: There is a common saying, “If it’s too cold for you, it’s too cold for your pets” and we feel that this is a pretty good rule to follow. Limiting time outdoors limits your pets exposure to the elements and reduces chances of frostbite and hypothermia.
Protect the paws: The ice and show on the ground is not good for pets. With ice worry about our pets slipping and potentially injuring themselves. We also worry about Frostbite with presence of snow and ice. Frostbite can set in quickly during extreme cold.
For smaller dogs, dogs with short hair, young and elderly dogs it is best to really limit the time they spend outside. Some dogs might also enjoy having winter gear to help keep them warm such as sweaters, jackets and booties.
Avoid harmful chemicals: Along with the ice and snow, harmful chemicals such as antifreeze, deicers and road salt. As with all chemicals, it is important to make sure these chemicals are stored in secure locations away from where your pets can access them.
You want to protect your pets’ paws from these harmful chemicals that can be on the ground, booties can be helpful for this. Wiping your pets’ paws down with a damp warm water cloth when returning from a walk is another way to make sure road salt is removed from the paws.
Prepare for emergencies: Power outages and icy roads pose potential hazards for pet owners. Power outages can cause you to lose heat and water. Water loss times are dependent upon the types of water you have, you will lose well water right away while city water might keep working for a little while due to gravity.
We recommend to have battery powered flashlights and lanterns on hand as well as enough water for all members of the household to make it 3-5 days without power. Additionally refilling your pets food and medication before you get too low can help ensure that you will not run out if you lose power or are unable to drive on the roads for a few days.
Check your vehicles: During extreme cold, many outdoor and stray cats will try to hide under a vehicle for the warmth of the engine and to protect themselves from the elements. When it is cold knocking on your car before starting it can help to ensure that any cat that might be hiding under there is able to get out safely first.
Additional resources:
SPCA – Keeping Pets Warm and Protected
AVMA – Cold Weather Animal Safety
Cornel College of Veterinary Medicine – Winter Safety Tips