As the weather turns cold, it is important to consider how seasonal changes affect our pets. Outdoor animals can become the victims of improper shelter, lack of fresh water, antifreeze poisoning, frostbite and even hypothermia. Winterize your pet
- Provide extra food as some pets have increased appetites during the cold weather months. Especially true for horses and other outdoor animals such as chickens, goats and llamas.
- Use sweaters, jackets and paw protection such as booties when walking or hiking with your dog.
- Consider providing heated beds, especially for older pets both indoors and outdoors. Elderly cats especially love a nice heated bed to curl up on.
- Keep dog's nails trimmed regularly. It is difficult to maintain solid footing with long nails in icy conditions.
- Inspect pet paws regularly to check for cracked pads, broken nails or abrasions from snow and ice.
- Brush the coat regularly to distribute natural oils to the skin.
- Your pet may have dryer skin in the winter. Try supplementing with a coat conditioner in their food. Your veterinarian can suggest their favorite skin supplement.
- Frostbite most frequently affects ears, toes, tail, scrotum and areas not covered by fur.
- Signs of frostbite include red or swollen areas or skin that is very pale and white.
- To treat frostbite, immerse the area in warm (not hot) water for 15-20 minutes. Take your pet to the veterinarian asap.
- Hypothermia occurs when a pet has been exposed to very cold temperatures and/or winds for an extended period of time
- Symptoms of hypothermia include shivering, low body temperatures, stumbling, drowsiness and exhaustion.
- To treat hypothermia, the pet's body temperature mus be raised. Surround the pet in warm towels or immerse in room temperature water and slowly add warmer water. Try to get the pet to drink warm fluids and take to your veterinarian asap.
- Add straw, shavings or insulation to outdoor shelters
- Install carbon monoxide detectors for the safety of your family and your pets.
- Keep the temperature level. Animals and birds especially are more sensitive to temperature changes than we are.
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