We don’t even have to brave the weather outside anymore to know it’s freezing cold! We have all seen enough dashboard temperature gauge pictures on Facebook to know that it is COLD outside!
While we’re busy adding on the layers and hoping it’s perfectly acceptable to wear furry slippers out of the house, it is extremely important to keep our furry little friends in mind as well while we experience these record-low temperatures! While they have a coat of fur that we don’t have (most of us, anyway), they still need an escape from the freezing cold weather!
Some helpful tips for pet owners during the winter include:
1. Keep your cat inside. Outdoors, they are liable to freeze.
2. During the winter season, outdoor cats sometimes hide under the hoods of vehicles. Unfortunately when the engine 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 you start the engine to give the cat a opportunity to run.
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 dog always wears ID tags.
4. Thoroughly wipe off your dog’s stomach and legs when he comes in out of the snow, ice or sleet. They can ingest antifreeze, salt or other potentially hazardous chemicals while licking his paws.
5. Be sure that your companion has a warm area to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A cozy dog or cat bed with a warm pillow or blanket is perfect.
6. Don’t ever leave your pet alone in a car during cold weather. A vehicle can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold and can cause the pet to freeze to death.
7. Puppies do not tolerate the cold weather as well as adult dogs, and may be 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 outdoors only to relieve himself.
8. Does your animal spend a lot of time engaged in activities outdoors? Increase his supply of food, particularly protein, to keep him, 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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