Winter Pet Safety Tips

• During freezing weather, it’s best to keep all pets inside, especially at night. If the temperature in the house is comfortable for your family, you can be certain that your pet is safe and warm.
• Be sure to provide adequate shelter, bedding, and fresh water for dogs kept outside.
• During winter months outside, dogs’ nutritional needs increase. Supplying them with a higher-quality food will help alleviate potential health concerns, such as weight and body heat loss.
• For indoor dogs, take several quick, short walks instead of one long one. Perhaps use a sweater for dogs who are very young, old, small, sick, or short-coated.
• Be sure to wipe down your dog’s paws each time you return home to remove the chemicals or salt used to melt ice and snow. These can be poisonous if ingested and can irritate sensitive feet.
• Cat owners also need to be careful in winter. Cats are especially susceptible to the cold and don’t have the body mass to keep warm in cold temperatures. If at all possible, keep your cat indoors until warmer weather returns. If your cat does go outdoors, make sure it’s only for short periods, and ensure your cat is inside overnight.
• Remember to never leave an animal in an unheated car for long periods of time; the temperature inside a car can drop quickly.
• Be sure to knock on the hood of your car each time you start the engine, to scare any cats away. Cats often crawl under car hoods to find warmth and can be injured or killed by a starting motor.

These winter pet safety tips are provided courtesy of the Humane Society of Huron Valley (Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105). The mission of the Humane Society of Huron Valley is to find a home for every adoptable animal in its care and to prevent cruelty to animals.