Tips on Keeping Your Pets Safe and Warm During Cold Weather

Many pets like cold weather; their fur is much more thicker, stronger and can outlast the cool, breezy temperatures. We usually have to layer as much as possible during severe drops in temperature, and sometimes even then, it’s not enough. However, taking care of your dogs overall health in the colder months is a top priority in ensuring their health and longevity. Veterinarians and experts have an array of recommendations during frigid, colder months, and the most important tips are outlined below.

• Shorten outside duration. It is suggested that with smaller pets and those with thinner coats outdoor time be coated with a sweater or coat.
• This should be a no-brainer, but with folks in a rush and trying to get to work on time, we can often forget. Cats, especially outside kitties, like to hide up in the engines of cars to keep warm. If you don’t make sure there’s not a kitty around or under your car, and you start the engine, it can injure and often kill the cat.
• Do not ever let your dog or cat drink from puddles outside. Antifreeze is deadly to cats and dogs as the sweet taste attracts them to it, but it causes kidney failure and death.
• Salt is a common irritant to your pooches paw; make sure to wipe off the salt from their paw if they get salt on it.
• Keep an eye out for your pet’s water bowl. Oftentimes, when a bowl is exposed to very cold air, the water freezes in the bowl. It is recommended to provide a plastic bowl for your pet to drink from, instead of glass or aluminum, since your pet’s tongue is less likely to get stuck to a plastic bowl.

News Source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-pet-tips-box-0122-20130122,0,4764479.story