SPOTLIGHT:

 Winter Care for Your Pet

Winter is a fun time to go outside and play with your pet. However, many things can be done to keep your pet safe and healthy in these cold months.

If your pet spends time outdoors, make sure they have shelter that is warm and dry and an unfrozen source of water. It is best to keep your pet indoors during cold weather.

If your dog is very active outside in the winter months, increase his food to make up for the extra calories consumed exercising in cold weather. If your pet is less active in the winter, adjust the amount of food so your pet does not gain weight over the winter.

Always leave a longer coat on your pets in the winter if you normally groom your animal, it will help keep them warmer. When bathing your pet, make sure they are thoroughly dry before going outside. Small-breed dogs, puppies and elderly dogs have a harder time staying warm, consider buying them a winter coat to help maintain their body heat.

Remember that antifreeze is very harmful to both cats and dogs. Clean up any spills from your vehicle.

Always inspect the paws of your pet when entering the house. Wipe down paws, legs and stomach to prevent licking and ingestion of salt, antifreeze and other dangerous chemicals. Also snow and ice can become encrusted in their paw pads making it painful to walk and may cause bleeding.

Although many dogs love to run in the snow, it is advised to always keep your dog on leash during winter months. They can injure themselves slipping on snow and ice, they can fall through thin ice if they run onto ponds and rivers, and they can become lost in snowstorms due to decreased sense of direction and loss of scent in the snow. 

Make sure your pets have proper identification tags and consider microchipping your pet so they can be returned if they become lost during the winter.



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