5 Pet Tips for Keeping Your Pet Safe This Winter
To avoid your dog turning into a pupsicle this winter, we thought now would be a great time to discuss cold weather tips for pets. With temperatures often dipping below freezing, it’s critical that you approach wintertime with pet safety in mind. So, we offer our top tips for keeping your dogs and cats toasty warm throughout the season.
Keep Your Pet Indoors
It’s commonly believed that pets—because of their fur—are better equipped to handle cold weather. Not so, says the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). It recommends that dogs and cats—which are susceptible to hypothermia and frostbite just like people—be kept indoors as much as possible. Although longer-haired pets can tolerate the cold better, the AVMA suggests that they not be left outdoors for lengthy periods of time in the winter.
Invest in Pet Clothing
Petwear is not only fashionable, it can also be a lifesaver to your canine. The same way that you enjoy a sweater, coat, and boots during the wintertime, most dogs feel the same way. Invest in a winter sweater and booties to keep your pet stylishly warm.
Careful with the Antifreeze
Unfortunately, antifreeze—a lethal poison—has a sweet taste that is appealing to pets and kids. So if you spill some, make sure you clean it up quickly. Another option for pet owners is to use products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol; there are a number of antifreezes on the market that qualify.
Take Care of Those Paws
When your pet returns from spending time outdoors, wipe its paws off carefully with a damp towel. Salt can be irritating to animals’ skin and mouths so make sure you wipe before your pet gets a chance to lick its paws.
Leave Fido at Home
While your dog may enjoy road trips, save them for milder temperatures rather than leaving your pet in the car unattended during cold winter weather. Think of your car as a rolling refrigerator of sorts in the winter. If you do take your pet with you, make sure that you leave the heater running.
In short, think of your pet as an extension of yourself. Do you enjoy walking outside without clothes or ingesting antifreeze? We’re kidding, but at Pet Palace, we do want to make the point that as with humans, animals require the same care in the wintertime that their owners do. So, dress them smartly, don’t let them linger outdoors in cold weather, and make sure you dry them off when they come back inside. Expect a woof or meow in appreciation!
Categories: Pet Safety