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COLD
WEATHER TIPS
Keep
pets indoors.
To prevent injury, frostbite and hypothermia/death.
Be
alert to frostbite.
Skin can turn red, white or gray and scaly. If you suspect your cat or dog has
frostbite, contact your vet.
Keep
ID tags on pets.
More pets are lost in the winter than any other time of the year. Pets lose
their ability to scent their way home in snow and ice conditions.
Always
walk dogs on a leash.
Dogs can become disoriented or lost. Roads are often dangerous in snow
conditions with snow plow piles and ice.
Be
aware of sheltered cats and wildlife:
Outdoor cats and other animals will often seek shelter beneath the hood of a car
and can be killed by fans or belts. Please bang on the hood or blow your
horn before starting the car.
Never
leave pets in the car.
Not for any length of time. Hypothermia and freezing are common in winter.
Be
aware of exposure time.
Dogs who are ill, old, very young or short-haired cannot endure prolonged
exposure to winter weather. Take them out only to relieve themselves.
Coats or sweaters can help avoid problems for dogs who like to play in the snow.
Keep
pets dry.
Never take your dog or cat out after a bath unless they are 100% dry.
Have a clean up
routine.
Keep a towel and maybe moist wipes by the door to clean dog’s feet of salt,
anti-freeze, and other harmful toxins.
Road salt can irritate or burn, as well as cause vomiting and in some pets,
cause seizures. Antifreeze has a sweet, attractive smell to pets and can
be deadly if ingested. Keep paws, belly and legs clean to avoid problems.
Keep pets warm
Always keep beds slightly elevated and away from cold drafts.
Keep pets safe from fire
If using a fireplace or wood stove, put a protective barrier or fire screen to
prevent burns.
Never use a space heater if you own pets. Pets can chew on the cord and be
electrocuted. Pets can knock over or land on the space heater resulting in
burns or worse, set fire to the home.
If
you keep your dog outdoors:
Provide a well-insulated dog-house. It should be free from drafts and of an
adequate size. Too large is not good.
Don’t use metal dishes – tongues can stick to frozen bowls.
Change water daily – snow is not a substitute for fresh water. A bowl of
water will freeze when temperatures drop and the pet can dehydrate.
It is not necessary to increase calories for your dog in winter unless
temperatures are subzero, or the dog is under increased stress (like a
sled-dog).
Anti
Freeze:
·
Lethal
poison- Ethylene Glycol- causes renal failure in pets.
·
A few licks
is a fatal amount.
·
Has a sweet
smell and taste that attracts animals.
·
Clean
spills immediately – not just for your pets, but also wildlife and
neighbor’s pets that visit your property.
·
Use “safe”
antifreeze – Propylene Glycol*- or ask your mechanic to.
*Brands
such as Sierra-1-800-289-7234 or StaClean 1-800-825-3464
Salts and
Ice Melts:
·
Generally
contain one of the following:
Sodium Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Magnesium Chloride,
Calcium Carbonate, Calcium Magnesium Acetate, Urela.
·
Symptoms of
exposure can be as mild as contact burns, and progress to vomiting,
diarrhea, Gastro-Intestinal distress, Ataxia, Cardiac Failure,
seizures.
·
Treat by
bathing the pet immediately and bring to the vet with the product
package so they can apply appropriate treatment
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Winter Tips:
As winter approaches, it is important to keep the following tips in
mind:
Keep cats indoors to prevent injury, frostbite and hypothermia or
death.
Be alert to frostbite—skin can turn red, white, gray or scaly.
Contact your veterinarian.
Keep ID tags on pets– more pets are lost in winter than any other
time of year. Pets lose their ability to scent their way home in
snow and ice conditions.
Always walk dogs on a leash– Dogs can become disoriented or lost.
Roads are often dangerous in snow conditions with snow plow piles
and ice.
Be aware of sheltered cats and wildlife– Outdoor cats & other
animals will often seek shelter beneath the hood of a car and can be
killed by fans or belts. Please bang on the hood or blow your horn
before starting the car.
Never leave pets in the car for any length or time. Hypothermia and
freezing are common in winter.
Be aware of exposure time– Dogs who are ill, old, very young or
short-haired cannot endure prolonged exposure. Take them out only to
relieve themselves. Coats or sweaters can help avoid problems for
dogs who like to play in the snow.
Keep pets dry– never take your dog or cat out after a bath unless
they are 100% dry.
Have a cleanup routine– Keep a towel and moist wipes by the door to
clean dog’s feet of salt, anti-freeze and other harmful toxins. Road
salt can irritate or burn, as well as cause vomiting. Antifreeze has
a sweet, attractive smell to pets and can be deadly if ingested.
Keep paws, belly and legs clean.
Keep pets warm– always keep beds slightly elevated and away from
cold drafts.
Keep pets safe from fire– if using a fireplace, put up a protective
barrier to prevent burns.
If you keep your dog outdoors provide a well insulated dog house.
Don’t use metal dishes, as tongues can stick to frozen bowls. Snow
is not a substitute for fresh water!
Dr. John Charos
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HOT WEATHER TIPS FOR YOUR PET
Dogs and cats can suffer from the
same problems that humans do in hot weather. These health concerns
include overheating, dehydration and even sunburn. By taking some
simple precautions, you can keep your animal companions healthy and
happy in higher temperatures.
Your
pet may slow down when the weather heats up, so the best time for
exercise is in the early morning or evening, but never when it’s
especially hot or humid. Take care not to let your dog stand on hot
asphalt, his body can heat up quickly and his sensitive paw pads can
easily burn. Owners of canines with heavy coats can help prevent
them from overheating by cutting the hair to a one-inch length.
Never trim your pet’s coat to the skin, which can rob your dog of
his protection from the sun. Always provide plenty of shade and
cool, clean water for animals kept outdoors. A properly constructed
doghouse is a must if you dog lives outdoors. Bring your cat or dog
inside during the hottest part of the day. Let him rest in a cool
part of the house, but first make sure there are no unscreened
windows or open doors in your home through which dogs and cats can
fall or escape.
When
traveling with your pet during hot weather, make it a habit to carry
a gallon – size thermos of water. Never leave your animal alone
in a vehicle. Overheating can be fatal. Even with the
windows open, a parked automobile can quickly become a furnace.
And summers the time when gardens, lawn and trees are sprayed with
insecticides so avoid walking your dog in suspect areas. If you
think that your animal has been exposed to dangerous chemicals or
coolant leaking from an automobile, call your veterinarian.
Some animals will need extra special care in hot weather, especially
those who are old and overweight or have heart of lung disease.
Certain breeds of dogs, including pugs, bulldogs, Boston terriers,
Lhasa apsos and shih tzus, also need extra attention on hot days.
If your pet is showing signs of heat stroke or exhaustion, take him
to the veterinarian immediately.
Make sure your pet always wears a collar and identification tag.
Pets need exercise even when it hot, but extra care needs to be
taken. Limit exercise to the coolest time of the day, early morning
or evening hours.
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