Protect Your Pets From Winter Hazards

by Steve Dale

The weather outside can still be frightful. Here are tips to keep your pets safe in the cold.

If it's cold enough outside, dogs and cats can get frostbite. Most susceptible are the tips their ears and tails. Dogs with long ears, like Basset Hounds and Weimaraners, are especially at risk.

While most dogs wear their own winter coats, when the temperatures dips below around freezing, small dogs need a little help to keep warm. The smaller the dog, the more difficulty maintaining body temperature, which is why a coat or sweater is a good idea for pups under around 20 pounds. Sight hounds have a problem which many people may resent - they have too little body fat to protect against the cold. That's why breeds including Greyhounds, Salukis and Whippets also need winter-wear to keep them comfortable.

And these days, there are so many choices, from "hoodies" with football team logos to faux fur designer coats. Although there is something odd about a dog looking like she's wearing a leopard coat.

Of course, some dogs relish the cold. After all, breeds such as Malamutes, Siberian Huskies and Samoyeds sometimes prefer zero degrees to being indoors. Still, if even an Arctic dog is going to be kept outdoors for any period of time, it will need unfrozen drinking water (you can buy water bowls with heaters to prevent freezing) and shelter from wind and snow.

Little booties may not appear macho, but sled dogs even wear them. Because dogs perspire some from their paws, tiny ice balls can form between the paw pads, which can be very uncomfortable. Also with paws unprotected, it may sting to walk on ordinary street salt, so consider alternative "pet friendly" salt (such as Morton Safe-T-Pet Ice Melt). Not only is it far gentler to canine paws, but also less damaging to concrete.

Other options to prevent the ice balls and deter street salt from sticking to the pads are to spray an unflavored no-stick cooking spray (such as Pam) on your dog's paws or use a product called Musher's Secret (available online and at many pet stores).

For cats, there are always dangers to being outdoors, but this is particularly true when temperatures dip. The good news is, cats are pretty resourceful at finding warmth. But that's also the bad news. To a cat seeking heat, a warm car hood is easy to find and slink into. As a result, veterinarians in cold weather climates too often treat cats mangled (some don't survive) when drivers innocently start their car engines. It's not a bad idea to follow Tony Orlando's advice; knock three times on the car hood in the morning before turning on the ignition.

Desperate for water, cats kept outside may drink anything they can find. Antifreeze is always tempting for cats or dogs. While pet friendly antifreeze may be safe, most is deadly. Less than a quarter a cup of antifreeze can kill a Great Dane, and a teaspoon can end the life of a small dog or a cat. Even better, seek out antifreeze brands which contain bittering agents, making them distasteful to pets.

Some family cats or dogs live in garages (never a good idea), and others can accidentally find their way inside a closed garage when a car is being warmed up. As a result, pets can suffer carbon monoxide poisoning. It only takes is around 10 to 15 minutes for a 10-pound pet to die in sealed off garage with a car running and no way out.

A common concern, particularly as the weather wavers from just below freezing up to the 30s, are ponds, rivers, lakes, and particularly retention ponds in condominium complexes. The ice may not be as solid as you think. Dogs are as susceptible to hypothermia as people. Those falling into freezing water may die. Unfortunately, so may people attempting to rescue their best friends. On larger bodies of water, another concern is a confused dog taking off in the wrong direction, away from the shore. While the water may be frozen at the shoreline, it may not be further out.

Where there are snowdrifts, some dogs avoid them. Other dogs love bounding into the snow, which is generally just fine. But jumping in and out of snow isn't like walking down the street, and older dogs or dogs not in good condition are prone to pull muscles they're not accustomed to using. The rule is simply not to allow your dog to overdo it. Some dogs just don't when to stop, and it up to their people to step in to prevent injuries and to keep pets safe.

Available at Amazon.com:

Living with Kids and Dogs ... Without Losing Your Mind

Miss Fido Manners Complete Book Of Dog Etiquette

Visiting the Dog Park

The Healthy Way to Stretch Your Dog: A Physical Therapy Approach (Dogwise Manual)

Doggin' America: 100 Ideas For Great Outdoor Vacations To Take With Your Dog

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