How to keep your pet safe during the cold

A: Unfortunately, a dog’s fur does not make it immune to the effects of snow and cold weather. When temperatures begin to dip into the 20’s at night, our pets become vulnerable to hypothermia, just like us. Depending on how wet and cold the conditions, it could only take a few hours before our pets begin to display symptoms of hypothermia. Generally, if you are cold, your outside pet is cold too! Here are some tips provided by the Forsyth County Animal Control on keeping your pet warm and healthy through the winter:

If you walk your pet outside, make the walks short and carry a towel to gently clean irritated paws. Massage petroleum jelly or vet-approved paw protectant into paw pads; adding booties will further keep contaminants from between toes. Thoroughly wipe off your pet’s legs and stomach when he comes in out of the sleet, snow or ice.

This not only dries them to help them warm up quicker, it will reduce the possibility of them ingesting salt, antifreeze or other chemicals that may be found outside during winter weather. Clean up any evidence of ethylene glycol anti-freeze, which can sicken or kill your pet! Also, use pet-friendly ice melt products. Take this opportunity to inspect your puppy’s paw pads which sometimes bleed from snow or encrusted ice.

Also inspect your pet’s paws, nose, ear tips and tail after coming in out of winter weather. These are the areas of the body that are often most susceptible to frostbite. If you find signs of frostbite, please remember that frozen tissue should never be rubbed! The friction is likely to do more harm than good. You may also want to remember that placing a coat or sweater on your short-haired breed is not just a fashion statement, it’s a necessity in cold weather.

Dress your pet in items with a high collar or turtleneck. You want to be sure they are covered from the base of the tail on the top to the belly underneath. Younger pets tend to be more vulnerable to the cold; this is particularly true for dogs. Consider paper-training your puppy during times of inclement weather as an alternative if they seem bothered by the snow. Bath your pet as little as possible during cold spells and keep your home humidified: dry winter air can cause itchy flaking skin.

Another thing you can do to help your pets brave the cold weather is add a little more food to their dish — increasing protein will help keep your pet’s fur thick and healthy. This is particularly important if they spend a lot of time engaged in outdoor activities. Make certain that your pet’s food and water remain fresh and unfrozen. Pets also need a warm place to sleep, away from all drafts and off the floor, such as in a dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow in it.

More pets are lost during the winter than during any other season, so make sure that they always wear I.D. tags. If you’re in Forsyth County, it’s the law! Try to avoid letting your dog off the leash on snow or ice, as dogs can lose their scent and easily get lost.

For more information about keeping your pet safe during the winter, visit the Forsyth County Animal Control website at forsyth.cc/animalcontrol. If you think your pet has ingested a potential toxin, immediately contact your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435