Pets Cold

4 Dec by Debbie June Rickman Laughlin

Are your pets cold?

Is your pet sitter cold?

You may not want them to feel like they have been left out in the snow.

As a pet sitter I have found that many people turn off the heat when they leave on their cold weather vacation.  It is amazing how fast the temperature drops in your home.  Sometimes it is so cold water pipes freeze and the pets are freezing too!  Spark Energy recommends:  When you’re away at work or know you’ll be gone for a while, decrease your thermostat temperature to around 58 degrees.  Are your pets cold? Is your pet sitter cold?  You may not want them to feel like they have been left out in the snow.

Brrrr—it’s cold outside!  Brrr—it’s cold inside too.

If you are home or away and have a pet sitter, neighbor or friend caring for your pets please be sure to review following guidelines that will help you protect your companion animals when the mercury dips.

1. Keep your cat inside. Outdoors, felines can freeze, become lost or be stolen, injured or killed. Cats who are allowed to stray are exposed to infectious diseases, including rabies, from other cats, dogs and wildlife.

2. During the winter, outdoor cats sometimes sleep under the hoods of cars. When the motor is started, the cat can be injured or killed by the fan belt. If there are outdoor cats in your area, bang loudly on the car hood before starting the engine to give the cat a chance to escape.

3. Never let your dog off the leash on snow or ice, especially during a snowstorm, dogs can lose their scent and easily become lost. More dogs are lost during the winter than during any other season, so make sure yours always wears ID tags.

4. Thoroughly wipe off your dog’s legs and stomach when he comes in out of the sleet, snow or ice. He can ingest salt, antifreeze or other potentially dangerous chemicals while licking his paws, and his paw pads may also bleed from snow or encrusted ice.

5. Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter, as a longer coat will provide more warmth. When you bathe your dog in the colder months, be sure to completely dry him before taking him out for a walk. Own a short-haired breed? Consider getting him a coat or sweater with a high collar or turtleneck with coverage from the base of the tail to the belly. For many dogs, this is regulation winter wear.

6.  Never leave your dog or cat alone in a car during cold weather. A car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death.

7.  Puppies do not tolerate the cold as well as adult dogs, and may be difficult to housebreak during the winter. If your puppy appears to be sensitive to the weather, you may opt to paper-train him inside. If your dog is sensitive to the cold due to age, illness or breed type, take him outdoors only to relieve himself.

8.  Does your dog spend a lot of time engaged in outdoor activities? Increase his supply of food, particularly protein, to keep him, and his fur, in tip-top shape.

9.  Like coolant, antifreeze is a lethal poison for dogs and cats. Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle, and consider using products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol. Visit the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center more information.

10.  Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A cozy dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow is perfect.

Here is a link to a pet cold weather check list!

All pets need adequate shelter from the elements and insulation against cold weather.  Like humans, they can suffer from hypothermia and frostbite. The young and the senior pets are especially at risk.  Pets with arthritis are prone to more discomfort in cold and damp environments.

Happy Winter!

By: Debbie June Rickman Laughlin

House Calls Pet Sitting and Home Care Services