How to Prepare Your Pet for Winter

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By SetApart
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Prepare Your Pet for Winter

The winter season is finally upon us and it is very important for pet owners to know and understand how to properly care for their pet in cold temperatures. Prepare for freezing temperatures so that you can protect your pet from preventable winter injuries and tragedies. Below are 5 tips to help you get prepared.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

insulation
plenty of food
plenty of fresh water
awareness

Step 1

Prevent Hypothermia: Keep your pets inside! However, some animals are better outdoor pets than indoor pets, so it is important for the pet owner to know that your dog can suffer from hypothermia if left in cold temperatures for extended periods of time. Please make sure that your outdoor pet has proper shelter to protect them against snow, rain, and wind and make sure you include plenty of straw and/or blankets to help them maintain their body temperature.
Step 2

Avoid Anti-freeze: Pets (especially dogs) don’t necessarily discriminate between what is appropriate to ingest and what is not. Anti-freeze poses a deadly threat to your pet, and it only takes a small amount to be fatal. Make sure all anti-freeze is stored away from animals and children, and if there are spills, make sure it is cleaned up immediately.
Step 3

Watch out for Warm Cars: Many cats enjoy prowling around outside, but it is always a good idea to keep them indoors for health and safety reasons. However, if this is not always possible, know that they will be attracted to warmth when they are outside in cold weather. Often, they will climb underneath the hood of your car and find warm refuge under there. Be aware of this tendency and always honk your horn or bang on the hood of your car BEFORE starting the engine. This will scare the cat away and prevent a terrible tragedy.
Step 4

Avoid dehydration and inadequate nutrition: Outdoor pets often need extra nutrition and will always need fresh water to drink. There is a misconception that frozen ice will be sufficient for a dog’s hydration needs. This is not true. Always make sure your pet has fresh clean water and because their body is working extra hard to keep their temperature regulated, they will need plenty of food to keep their energy levels where they need to be.
Step 5

Do not use space heaters: There is a temptation to use space heaters or heat lamps for your outdoor pet. The intent is good; however, the risks are high. These items pose a fire hazard and are quite dangerous. Also, if your pet gets bored, they might chew on the electrical cord, and that will have devastating consequences.
Step 6

Animals are very similar to humans in many respects. They need the proper care and attention. As pet owners, we need to ensure that they are prepared to endure the cold winter months and do our part to ensure they are warm, well nourished, properly hydrated, and protected. Please call us your local animal shelter or veterinarian if you have any other questions about how to care for your dog or cat in the months ahead.

Comments

leaper said

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on 2/26/2009 Thanks for the good tips.

JoanReinbold said

on 1/27/2009 You're advice is great, especially now with the extreme cold.

chenderson00 said

on 12/5/2008 5*s. Even though I'm from the south and it doesn't actually get REALLY cold here. But it's always helpful because every once in awhile it gets COOLLD.