We don’t even have to battle the weather outside anymore to know it’s wicked cold! We have all seen enough pictures of dashboard temperature gauges on social media to know that it is COLD outside!
While we’re busy adding on the layers and hoping it’s acceptable to sport furry house slippers in public, it is crucial to keep our furry friends in mind as well during these record-low temperatures! While they have a coat of fur that we don’t have (most of us, anyway), they still need to escape the freezing cold weather!
A few useful tips for pet owners during the winter include:
1. Keep your cats inside. Outdoors, cats are liable to freeze.
2. During the winter season, outdoor felines have been known to hide under the hoods of vehicles. Unfortunately when the motor is started, the cat can be injured or even killed by the fan belt. If there are outdoor cats in your area, tap loudly on the car hood before starting the engine to give cats the chance to escape.
3. Don’t ever let your dog off the leash on ice or snow, especially during a snowstorm, dogs can lose their scent and easily get lost. More dogs are lost during the winter than during any other season, so make sure your canine always wears ID tags.
4. Thoroughly wipe off your dog’s stomach and legs as he comes in out of the ice, sleet or snow. He can ingest salt, antifreeze or other potentially dangerous chemicals while licking his paws.
5. Be sure that your pet has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A comfy dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow is perfect.
6. Never leave your pet alone in the car during cold weather. A car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold and can cause your pet to freeze to death.
7. Puppies do not handle the cold weather as well as adult dogs, making it hard 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 illness, age or breed type, take him/her outdoors only to relieve himself.
8. Does your pet spend a lot of time engaged in activities outdoors? Increase his supply of food, particularly protein, to keep them, and his fur, in the best possible shape.
You take care of your pets while Paul Davis takes care of your home!
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