Winter can be challenging for us and our furry friends. If your pet stays outdoors for too long in the cold weather, they could fall sick, and you might have to rush them to a vet. As a pet owner, you must take all the necessary steps to keep your pet safe when it is freezing outside. Here are a few ways to keep your four-legged friend safe during winter.
Bring them indoors.
During the colder months, bring your pets inside. If you notice any pets left outdoors, inform their owners, as the pet can become disoriented, lost, or stolen during the chilly months. Do not leave your pet alone in the car during the cold weather. Your car can act like a refrigerator and hold the cold in, which can cause your pet to freeze to death. If you cannot bring your pet indoors, you must ensure they are in a dry and draft-free space large enough to allow them to sit or lie down. However, it should also be small enough to hold the pet’s heat. If possible, raise the floor a little off the ground and then cover it using straw or cedar shavings and ensure that this place is away from the wind. It would help if you remembered to cover the doorway using heavy plastic.
Access to water.
No matter the type of pet you own, ensure that they always have access to non-frozen water. If you have livestock that cannot be moved or taken indoors, you need to keep adequate drinking water beside them. Access to food and water should not be blocked due to ice or snow drifts.
The experts at Laveen Animal Hospital state, “One of the most important things to do during winter is to protect the paws of your pets. Salt and chemicals that are used to melt ice and snow could end up irritating their paws.” Pets tend to have a habit of licking them and it could irritate their mouth. Hence, wipe the paws with a damp towel and use petroleum jelly to protect the paws from harsh cold.
Look after the skin and coat.
As a pet owner, you need to pay special attention to the coat and skin of your pets. Winter is often a time when they get flaking and itchy skin. To avoid this, keep the home humidified, and as soon as you get your pet indoors, towel dry them. Keep their paws and the area between their toes clean and dry. Make sure there is no snow between the foot pads, and if you can, keep the dog’s coat longer during winter. It will keep them warm. For short-haired dogs, keep a sweater or coat aside for them and keep the bathing to a minimum. This will help avoid dry skin.
Understand the pet’s limits.
When you bring home a pet, you must understand their strengths and limitations. One of the most important things to remember is their limit outdoors. You must be aware of how the pet tolerates cold weather and if they can adjust to it. Speak to a veterinarian if you are unsure and need advice.
Check the car engine before you start it.
While a warm engine could be appealing as a source of heat during winter, it could be deadly. Always check underneath the car, on the hood, and honk the horn before you start the engine so that your pet is not anywhere close to the engine.
Watch out for hypothermia.
Whenever you see your pet shivering, whining, or anxious, you need to pay special attention to them. If they are slower than usual, look weak, tend to stop moving, and look for warm places to hide, you need to immediately get them indoors as these could be signs of hypothermia. It is not easy to detect frostbite and might not be recognized until a few days after it has done the damage. So, if you think your pet has frostbite or hypothermia, you need to head to your veterinarian right away. Do not waste any more time.
Always be prepared.
Winter could bring power outages and blizzards. You need to have an emergency kit ready for yourself and your pet. It should have enough water, food, and medication on hand so that in case of an emergency, you are not in trouble. The kit should have enough items to last you three to four days.
Besides looking after your pet during winter, you must also keep yourself warm and avoid stepping out when it's snowing. You will only be able to look after your pet if you are safe and warm indoors. Do not step out unless absolutely necessary, and keep the fireplace on to keep everyone in the family warm.
