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Buy It For Less At... |
It's about that time of year again to be getting ready for the winter months. Your pets will need special care this winter to help them remain happy and healthy. So, while you are finding your wool socks, putting up your storm doors and windows, remember to help your pets get ready for winter, too! Here are some easy guidelines to follow (whether you have a furry Siberian Husky or one of the hairless breeds), they are all domesticated animals and need proper care:
SHELTER
Keep pets in a warm, draft-free and dry environment.
All pets should be brought inside when the mercury dips below 32 degrees. The reason isn't so much the temperature (in animals that are mostly outside) it is the fact any and all water supplies for that pet will be frozen and they can rapidly die from dehydration.
If you MUST keep your pet outdoors, then make sure that the animal has shelter that is up off of the ground with proper insulation from cold and wind.*
Install a canvas flap over the doghouse door to protect from rain, snow, or wind.
The shelter should be watertight and large enough for your pet to comfortably turn around in, but small enough to preserve its body heat.
Straw, wood shavings, and/or dry bedding will all help conserve warmth.
ALL animals must be brought indoors when temperatures and wind chill factors drop severely.
FOOD AND WATER
Staying warm means extra calories are being burned so be sure that all pets should have food available at all times to keep up with this requirement.
Indoor pets will become somewhat less active and may require less food. Discuss particular feeding plans with your veterinarian.
A healthy, well-nutritioned pet will fair much better in the winter months than those that are not.
Invest in a heated water bowl, especially for outdoor pets. Fresh water should be available at ALL times!
EXERCISE
Pets still need regular exercise and playtime in the winter months, and it help us, too to get some fresh air! Just remember to place a sweater on the pet that is young, old, sick, debilitated, skinny, or has little fur for protection and check feet when coming indoors to remove ice, mud, snow, and salts.
SEASONAL TOXINS/POTENTIAL HAZARDS
Antifreeze can kill pets, even very small amounts. Be sure to clean up spills thoroughly and immediately. Keep antifreeze containers out of reach of pets and tightly closed.
Cats will seek out a warm car engine to nap on to keep warm. Be sure to knock on the hood of the car and honk the horn prior to starting your engine.
Chocolate, bones, alcoholic beverages, holiday treats, ornaments, tinsel, Christmas bulbs, electrical cords, spray snow, plastic and foil wrappings can all be hazards to your pets. Never put anything such as ribbons or rubberbands around your pet's neck for risk of strangulation.
Use a firescreen to protect your pet from becoming severely burned by entering or becoming burned from sparks from your fireplace. Keep pets from getting too close to the fire as thermal burns can quickly result.
Remove any caked-on mud, salt, or ice from your pets paws. These items can cause frostbite and infection in unprotected feet. Keep feet dry and clean after each outing.
SIGNS OF TROUBLE:
Frostbite
Frostbite can cause the skin to look white, reddish or gray, and can appear scaly or sloughing on the feet. Frostbite is most common seen on the outside edges of the ears of pets, tails, and footpads. If you suspect frostbite, do not rub the area, but gently warm it by wrapping in a lukewarm, moist towel. Too hot of water or too rapid warming is very painful and may result in further damage to the tissues. Call your veterinarian.
Hypothermia
Warning signs of hypothermia include sluggish responses, dilated pupils, shivering, or even death. Bring your pet indoors and wrap in warm blankets to take to your veterinarian immediately.
Toxin/Foreign Object Ingestion
Call your veterinarian immediately if you suspect something has been eaten that shouldn't have been. Medications, chocolate, toys, strings, cloths, plants, light bulbs, ornaments, tinsel, etc. Be ready and able to tell your vet exactly what you suspect the pet has eaten and bring the bottle or a sample with you to the vet. Early treatment results in less damage to the liver, kidneys and organs of the digestive tract. Antifreeze toxicity is very rapid and causes death within 24 hours.
Electrocution
Electrocution is visible by burns affecting the mouth (which may have blackened margins), burns on the feet, mouth sensitivity, and trouble breathing. Electrocution can kill your pet-get to your vet immediately.
*SOME ANIMALS ARE SIMPLY NOT MEANT TO BE OUTSIDE WHEN THE
WEATHER IS COLD. KITTENS, PUPPIES, OLDER PETS, SICK PETS, OR PETS
WITH VERY LITTLE FUR OR FAT SHOULD BE KEPT INSIDE WITH YOUR DURING
THESE COLD WINTER MONTHS. IF YOU ARE NOT SURE, ERROR ON THE SIDE
OF CONSERVATION AND
WARMTH! HAPPY WINTER!
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