Weather Not Fit For Beastie

The weather outside is frightful...so what can to do to protect out pets?

During the cold spell it's best to keep your cats indoors. If they are traditionally outside cats, as mine are, you must keep in mind that they will seek warmer places such as underneath the hood of a car. I once had a cat that lost a leg because of this. He was lucky; he survived and got along well with three legs. If you do have outdoor cats in your area, make noise and bang on the hood of your car before starting it up. It's best to encourage your cat's to come in during the evening if possible.

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If it snows, keep your dog on a leash. If they get separated from you, they have a hard time picking up a scent in the snow. More dogs are lost during the winter then any other time of the year. Make sure your pets have tags and are micro chipped.

Make sure to wipe your pets feet and under carriage after coming in from a walk. They can ingest salt, antifreeze or other potentially dangerous chemicals while cleaning themselves. Make sure paws are clear from snow, sleet or encrusted ice as this can make their pads bleed.

Try not to shave your pet down in the winter--an undercoat provides the best protection. If he must be shaved down, be sure to provide a warm sweater or coat for him to wear. If you have a short-haired dog, provide him a sweater or sweatshirt to wear and/or a lined raincoat to wear on walks. A rule of thumb is if you are cold, dogs like greyhounds, dachshunds, Chihuahuas, will probably be cold as well. If your pet's fur becomes matted, it is not only painful for your pet; it will not properly protect them from the cold.

We all know not to leave our pets in the car during the hot summer months, but keep in mind, during the cold winter, your car can act as a refrigerator and cause him to freeze to death.

Puppies seem to be a popular gift during the Christmas season. Keep in mind, puppies do not tolerate the cold as well and will be harder to potty train during the cold season. You may need to paper train or use potty pads. Older dogs do not tolerate the cold either and should only be taken out during a potty break.

If your dog enjoys being outside and tends to play more in the colder weather, you may need to increase his food or increase the fat/protein of his food. Foods like Evo, Barking at the Moon, and Instinct, Grain Free Canidae or Taste of the Wild may be a good choice to switch over during the cold season. This will not only help him keep the weight on, it will provide him a healthier coat to play in. Likewise, if they are couch potatoes, you may need to reduce their calorie intake. You can give a little less food and add some veggies to their diet.

Provide a nice warm place for them to sleep. If possible, off the floor and away from drafts.

If they are outside dogs, provide adequate shelter, food and water (if it freezes, make sure they have water they can drink). Hay or straw is great for bedding is a good insulator; it also works well if your dog likes to chew up his blankets. If possible put a flap on the dog house to keep wind, rain and snow out. Keep in mind, even dogs that are suited for staying outside, can suffer from hypothermia or frostbite if left out in the cold for too long.

Here is a checklist if you were to get stranded for a few days (of course none of us here in the NW would know anything about that, i.e., last years winter blast):

Pet Food
Litter
Water
Bedding
Any medications your pet takes on a regular basis.