Winterizing Your Pet

Tips for Cold Weather

Housing - Outdoors
Pets living outdoors should be fine in most weather but should be brought in when the temperature really drops. If an aminal is to be primarily housed outdoors during the winter it is important to allow at least one month for acclimatization and thickening of the fur. Provision of adequate shelter is very important. The following points should be kept in mind.

• Make sure the house has a door to avoid exposure to the wind and to help keep dry (watertight and windproof).
  It should be raised off the ground
• It should be south-facing to avoid north winds exposure and be in a sheltered location
• Bigger is not always better - the house should be big enough for your pet to sit/stand/turn/lie down easily but not so large that it encourages body heat loss. Ideally the size should be measured against the pet to be housed in it - the length of thehouse should be 1 ½ times the pet's body length, the width of the house 2/3 the body length and the heigth 1 1/5 the pet's height.
• Insulation is very important. Straw or shavings are ideal, blankets are adequate as well. Regardless of which is used please make sure it stays dry inside. Check frequently and replace as needed.

Housing - Garage / Inside
Even indoor pets have special considerations during the winter months. Be sure that their sleeping area is draft-free and preferably elevated from floor level.

• If your pet stays in the garage, be careful not to leave the car running with the door closed for extended periods of time as pets can also suffer from carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Monitor for antifreeze leaks and keep antifreeze bottles well out of your pet's reach. It has a sweet taste which tempts our furry friends to lick this very toxic substance.
• Indoor pets should be monitored carefully when outside due to the fact that they generally have not had the chance to build up a thick winter coat and get cold very quickly.

Frostbite and Hypothermia

• Monitor extremities for signs of frostbite indicated by gray or red skin or skin that may slough. Do not rub these areas - seek immediate vet attention. Improper re-warming can lead to other health risks.
• Watch for signs of cold - shivering, lethargy, and weakness.
• Slippery ice can lead to injuries - especially for older and/or ill pets.
• Pets should be monitored while roaming "frozen" bodies of water. They can easily fall in under the ice or be susceptible to hypothermia.

Travel

• Sedation of your animal during travel is generally not advisable, but especially during the winter months as it affects body temperature regulation.

Nutrition

• Dogs spending most of their time outside have an increase in their nutrient requirements. A good rule of thumb is usually about a 25% increase.
• Indoor pets are usually less active and require less nutrition. It is important to cut back on the amount being fed depending on the change in your pet's activity. For pets that are still exercising but are lounging a bit more a decrease of about 10-15% is generally appropriate.
• Water should always be readily available - a heated water source should be used and can be purchased inexpensively at most hardware stores. If a heated water source is not provided warm water should be given at least 2 times daily. Remember that metal conducts heat quickly so plastic buckets should be used for watering during winter months to delay freezing.

Outerwear

• Short-haired dogs, especially small ones (ex. Chihuahua) have little insulation and should wear outergear.
• Pet booties are also available to protect the pads of the feet

Grooming Tips

• When bringing your pet inside or back from a walk, remove salt, ice and snow from feet as soon as possible. Salt is very irritating to the tissues. Vaseline on the bottoms of the feet will help to keep salt and snow from sticking to the pads and make wiping them much more effective and simple.
• Iceballs can form and be painful. They can be prevented by trimming the hair between the toes.
• Long-haired dogs and cats must be brushed out on a regular basis as matted hair does not provide proper insulation.

Other

• Young, old, and weak animals should not go outdoors for extended periods of time.
• Cold weather increases the discomfort of osteoarthritis.
• A person should always check under their hood or honk the horn before starting the car for those who have roaming pets in the area.

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