Winter Pet Care

Cold weather and the holidays can inflict seasonal hazards on pets. Know how to keep your dog and cat safe when the temperature drops.

With the season upon us, it’s time to take precautions to keep dogs and cats safe and healthy. Whether you live in the Lower 48 or the mountains of Alaska, these essential tips will help you to protect your dog or cat during winter’s chill.

Be Weather Wise

Know how to respond to dramatic temperature drops that may affect your pet’s daily routine during the winter season.

• Provide outdoor pets with shelter. Pets endure cold winters better indoors, although if you have a stubborn indoor/outdoor cat, keeping her inside all season can be a challenge. In that case, set up a shelter protected from wind and rain, with extra blankets and make sure she has access.
• Dress your dog. Small and shorthaired dogs lose body heat quickly, and prolonged shivering and shaking isn’t good for their health. Protect them with a sweater when you go on winter walks. Keep an eye on your little buddy, too, and if she looks cold or seems dazed, seek inside warmth ASAP. Also, if you live in a place that uses salt or liquid to melt ice, protect your pet’s paws from the abrasives left on sidewalks. Salt and other chemicals not only irritate sensitive paws, they also can harm a pet’s digestive system if she licks the substance.

Your pet, like you, will have a happier winter if she stays warm. But this doesn’t mean you should avoid the outdoors altogether. Instead of hibernating, plan some rejuvenating outdoor exercise when days are a bit warmer and free of wind chill.

Household Hazards

Certain things we humans have and use during winter pose dangers for pets.

• Decorate with care. Holiday decorating and feasting is one of the greatest parts of the season, but don’t forget about your pets when you plug in those lights or leave a plate of cookies unattended on the table.
• Know that antifreeze is deadly to pets. Since it is sweet smelling and tasting, it can be irresistible to both dogs and cats. When you use it, keep it out of pets’ reach and clean up spills immediately. Check your car for leaks and your driveway and street for stray puddles.
• Cover radiators and heaters. Pets who approach a hot radiator or space heater risk getting seriously burned or starting a fire. Protect them by covering those units or positioning them where pets cannot reach or tip them over.
• Ventilate the garage. If winter means warming up the car in the garage for several minutes before you get in, make sure that the garage is properly ventilated and pets aren’t present while the car is running. Carbon monoxide exposure is bad news for cats, dogs and people.
• Check for stowaways. Cats are notorious for curling up where it’s warm. In winter they have a particular attraction to car engines and will crawl underneath a car and find a resting spot there.
• Maintain visibility. Wipe away snow and ice before driving and know where your pet is every time you start the car to avoid potentially fatal accidents.

Changing the Menu

Consider whether your pet’s nutritional needs should change during the winter months. Outdoor cats and dogs may need more fat in their diets to insulate their bodies from the cold, while indoor pets may become less active and therefore require fewer calories. Discuss with your vet what your pets need in terms of diet and exercise to ensure that they stay healthy all season long.