Caring for pets in cold weather

Winter is almost upon us. While Central Virginia enjoys relatively mild winters, we do have our share of freezing rain, the occasional blizzard, and some bitterly cold nights. Here are some guidelines to keep your pets happy, healthy and warm this winter.

All cats, and most dogs, should be kept indoors when the temperature drops, except when taken out for exercise. The Humane Society of the United States advises that shortcoated dogs, puppies, older dogs, and all cats, should never be left outside for extended periods of time, regardless of the season.

If you must keep your dog outdoors, provide her with a dry, well-insulated dog house. The dog house should be large enough for her to stand up, turn around and lie down in comfortably, but small enough to trap in body heat. The floor should be raised a few inches off the ground. Do not place blankets or quilts in the doghouse. On the contrary, these items trap moisture, and can make your dog damp and cold. Instead, use fresh clean hay or straw, about 4 or 5 inches deep. Dog Owner’s Guide online recommends “salt marsh” hay, which is found in farm supply and seed stores. The door to the doghouse should be covered with heavy plastic or waterproof burlap to trap in heat and keep out moisture. Place the doghouse in a sheltered spot away from the wind and at the side of your home that gets the most sun.

Water freezes quickly in cold weather; refilling the water bowl twice daily is not enough. Check your pet’s water bowl routinely throughout the day to ensure the water is fresh and not frozen. Use plastic food and water bowls, rather than metal bowls which freeze quickly and to reduce the chance of your pet’s tongue sticking to the metal. A deeper plastic water bowl, which will freeze less quickly, is better than a shallow, wider bowl.

Your pet will need more food, particularly proteins, if she spends a great deal of time outdoors in the winter. More energy is expended to staying warm and, therefore, requires more calories.
Do not shave your dog down to the skin in winter. Shorthaired dogs should wear a coat or sweater, if they will tolerate wearing one, to help them stay warm.

Do not let your dog off leash on snow or ice and during a snowstorm. Dogs are likely to lose their scent and can get lost easily. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, more dogs are lost during the winter than at any other time — be sure keep your dog’s ID tags on.

Wipe off your dog’s paws, legs and body when he comes in from snow or ice in order to clean off any dangerous toxins such as salt, chemicals or antifreeze.

The sweet taste of antifreeze attracts animals, but it’s highly toxic when ingested. Clean up any spills and try to use antifreeze made with propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol.

Keep the hair between your dog’s toes and pads clipped short in order to maintain good traction on ice. This will also reduce the likelihood of painful ice crystals forming, which can cause the paw pads to bleed.

Cats like to curl up by the warm engine of parked cars in the winter. To avoid injuring any animals, bang on the hood of the car loudly to let the cat escape.

Some puppies may be difficult to housebreak in the winter, and you may have to paper-train inside.

Extended exposure to the cold can cause hypothermia and frostbite. Shivering is a dog’s first reaction to hypothermia, or lowering of core body temperature, just as a human’s is. Frostbite is the death of tissue in the extremeties, and while it may not be noticeable immediately, it can lead to in amputation.

No pet, not even dogs that have spent most of their time outdoors, should be kept outdoors during periods of extreme cold or very bad weather. Please bring your dog in under these conditions!
Cats and dogs are highly social creatures who thrive on, and desire, human companionship. They should live indoors with their human family.

On the web
--www.hsus.org
--www.canismajor.com