Cold Weather Tips

1. Beware of antifreeze! In just tiny amounts, antifreeze is deadly if ingested. Clean up spills immediately, store chemicals securely away from pets, and look for products containing propylene glycol instead of ethylene glycol.
   
2. Bring all pets indoors during frigid weather. Older, very young, or ill pets, pets not acclimated to the cold, and certain shorthaired breeds of dogs are especially sensitive to the cold. Trips outside should be kept brief to prevent frostbite.
3. Keep cats indoors. Free-roaming cats may curl up in wheel wells or under the warm hoods of cars. Before starting the engine, bang on the hood or press the car’s horn to alert any sleeping animals.
4. Provide extra calories. Animals that are active outdoors may need extra nutritional calories in their diet to give them added energy needed in colder weather. Ask your veterinarian for details.
5. Shelter your pet! If dogs spend time outdoors, they should be provided with proper shelter, which is dry and secure from the wind and weather. Fresh hay or cedar shavings provide dry bedding materials. The shelter should have a floor elevated from the ground.
6. Shovel paths for pets. Deep snow makes it difficult for older and smaller pets to walk and can aggravate conditions such as arthritis.
7. Remove ice, snow, sand, and salt. Thoroughly wipe off pets’ foot pads and stomach fur with warm water when they come in from the outdoors. Ice, rock salt and sand can be extremely irritating to animals’ skin. These and other snow-melting chemicals can be harmful to pets if swallowed while licking their pads and fur.
8. Always supervise and keep your pet on leash. Winter can spell trouble for pets that wander onto half-frozen lakes and ponds. Plus, mounds of snow make it difficult to see animals running in the street.
9. Never leave your pet in the car. Just as the sweltering heat of summer can kill pets in cars, frigid temperatures can easily freeze pets to death. Never leave your pet in the running car. Pets will be safest if left in the warmth and comfort of your home.
10. Provide pets with a warm, draft-free place to sleep. Caged pets, such as birds, hamsters, and guinea pigs, are especially sensitive to cold drafts. Keep cages in a warm, dry area of the house.