The cold spell Portage la Prairie is currently experiencing is not a friend to our furry companions.
Doctor Tammy Dunbar, a veterinarian at the Portage Veterinary Hospital, caught up with PortageOnline to discuss the cold weather affecting your cats and dogs. She says while you probably don't want to walk your dog in this cold, getting them outside is still essential. Noting that the dog's fur dictates how long they should be outside, not particularly the degree of how cold it is.
“Thick double-coated dogs thrive in this weather. They can handle being outside a little bit longer than, for example, a single-coated dog or the really short-haired dogs, and especially the cats. A cat's ears and body are very susceptible to the cold.”
Dunbar says that if your dog lacks natural protection from Mother Nature, getting them sweaters, boots, and other protective gear is ideal. Meanwhile, cats should rarely go outside in the winter.
“You have to be smart and know your breed and know what your dog's capabilities are, but they definitely need some extra protection at this time if they are outdoors,” she continues. “We see cats that have been outdoors who have frost-bitten ears, and we do see some hypothermia in dogs that have been left out too long.”
The veterinarian also points out that pet owners should be looking at their pet's paws for salt from the roads once they come in from the outdoors.
“The salt can be quite irritating to the dog's or cat's paws. So, when they come in, you want to make sure you wipe your animal off really well.”
With stray cats often having difficulty surviving the winter, they will make their way into your car overnight, sometimes to take cover. Dunbar says you should give your car hood a good morning bump to get the felines out of the
“Cats will go up into the engines of a car. So, just be careful. It can damage your car if something gets up there and you start the car engine.”
Lastly, Dunbar advises everyone to keep an eye on the weather forecast as when a storm hits; there is no guarantee that you will be able to get your pet the proper food, medication or care they need during a storm.
