Tips For Caring For Your Pet in Winter

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Unless you’re one of the lucky ones living in one of the balmier states, you've felt the cold chill of winter arrive. For some of us, cold weather is regarded as a mere nuisance; for others, it’s a fun time filled with snowboarding, skiing and other winter joys; and still others will find this time of bone-chilling weather and huge piles of snow a veritable nightmare to endure.

Whatever your viewpoint on winter, one thing remains the same for all of us with pets: it’s a time when our beloved babies need a little extra care. Luckily, PetMD has compiled a list of tips to protect your pet from the dangers of winter.

1. In or Out?
Does your pet spend most of the time in the backyard? You might want to keep her indoors during the freezing months, especially if you live in bitterly cold areas. No one wants an icicle for a pet -- they’re simply not that cuddly.

2. Bare Naked Truth
If you must keep your pet outdoors, consider this: Would a fur coat alone (even if it is faux mink) keep you warm against the elements? No? Well, your pet’s fur coat isn’t enough protection for your pet during winter, either. Be a pal and provide your dog with a warm, dry, and draft free shelter outside; the shelter should also comply with any state laws that apply.

3. No More Frozen Dinners!
Because it takes more energy to stay warm when it's cold, outdoor animals eat more during the winter. Likewise, fresh, running water is vital for maintaining your pet's health. Keep an eye on the water bowls and make sure they haven’t turned into little skating rinks for fleas (boo, fleas!). While ice pops might be a fun treat, your pet really doesn’t want to have to lick a frozen lump of ice to get his water.

4. Latest Fad Diet?
Indoor animals, meanwhile, have different dietary needs. They conserve energy by sleeping more in the winter. Dogs and cats also exercise much less when they do go outside, so you may need to adjust the amount of food accordingly. After all, no one wants an overweight pet.


5. Frosty the Biting Snowman
We’re not talking about the latest horror movie offering from Hollywood. Frosting is a serious problem during winter, especially for paws, tips of tails, and ears. This makes it even more important in keeping your pet warm, especially if they’re an outdoor pet. Get special booties, coats, and maybe a hat for your pet during her walks, and look for early warning signs of frostbite such as firm, waxy skin and blisters.

6. The Deadly Drink
The worst of all the wintertime chemical spills is antifreeze, which often leaks from a car's radiator. It may taste delicious to your cats or dogs, but it is extremely deadly -- even the smallest sip can be fatal. If your pet starts acting "drunk" or begins to convulse, take him to the vet immediately. Better yet, keep all pets away from the garage and clean up any accidental spillage. You should also not let your dog wander too far during his walks. Who knows what dangers lie in your neighbors' driveways?

7. Salty Solution
Do you live in an area with cold and icy winters? Then you are probably accustomed to salt on the sidewalks and roads. However, the types of salt (typically calcium or sodium chloride) used to melt ice and snow and keep it from refreezing are somewhat harsh on delicate paws -- not to mention they corrode concrete and damage the beautiful vegetation. Protect your pet's paws, and keep him warm during walks, by outfitting him with booties.

8. Joy Ride
Cars are particularly attractive to animals in the winter-time, especially frigid cats that love to climb up under the hood and curl up on the warm motor. This, as you can imagine, has led to many mishaps when motorists start their car … ouch! Avoid such accidents by tapping your car's hood before starting the vehicle. Sure, you may wake Kitty from her deep slumber, but she'll thank you in the long run.

Wintering with your pet is mostly common sense. If you’re cold, your beloved pet will most likely be cold too. So snuggle up, keep your pet warm and safe, and sooner than you can say "Jack Russell," we’ll all be hitting the beaches for some summertime fun.

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1. Microchip checks - make sure your dog is wearing a collar, an ID tag and most importantly is microchipped. It is now a legal requirement to ensure your microchipping database is up to date with your current address and contact details. If you need help checking this, call in to our practice. We can scan your pet’s microchip and give you information on how to check your contact details.
2. Keep cats indoors – as the nights draw in and the clocks change, it’s always wise to keep a closer eye on the movements of your cat. If you live near a busy road, keep your cat in, especially in the mornings and early evenings during rush hour. On cold, frosty nights, it’s also wise to keep them in the warm.
3. Parasite control - continue using monthly flea, tick, and worm treatments preventives. At Cedar Veterinary Group we recommend all pets should take these preventives treatments all year round. It’s easier and cheaper to prevent parasites than treat them when a pet’s infested or infected.
4. Food – most pets don’t need their diet adjusted for the different seasons unless they spend more time outside. If you take your dog for longer walks on very cold days, it will be worth giving a bit more food. Cats on the other hand don’t tend to burn up more calories during the winter as they will usually choose to spend more time inside. You may even need to reduce the amount you feed a cat if they are doing a lot less exercise. At Cedar Veterinary Group our nursing team is always very happy to help you manage your pet’s diet. We can use our accurate weigh scales and suggest feeding plans. Contact us if you need some help.
5. Water - to prevent dehydration, make sure your pet’s water supply doesn’t freeze.
6. Exercise carefully - in colder weather, your dog may take longer to warm up when exercising, so take things slowly at first. Ice and snow may make it more likely that your dog can injure itself when chasing a ball. Our vets see many dogs each year injure their knee ligaments because of slips and twists on the ice.
7. Feet - rock salt, used to melt snow and ice, can irritate the skin and pads. Clean the feet thoroughly after a walk outside using clean, cold water. Uneven, icy surfaces can also cut a dog’s pads, so keep your dog on a lead. If your dog has particularly sensitive feet, we are able to supply some dog boots that can help.
8. Keep away from frozen ponds - never allow your dog to walk on a lake or pond that looks frozen. The appearance of ice can be deceiving and pets can fall through and drown. If your dog does fall through ice, never be tempted to go in after him.
9. Cars - when the weather cools, cats like to sleep near a warm car engine. Make sure you know where your cat is before you start the engine. You may even consider sounding the horn before starting your car.
10. Safety in cars – never leave your dog in a car during extreme weather, hot or cold. We’re all aware of this in the summer months, but don’t forget that in the winter the problems of hypothermia can be equally dangerous.
11. Care with antifreeze - antifreeze can be lethal. It tastes sweet to cats and dogs and contains ethylene glycol, a toxic agent. When you top up your radiator fluid, always clean up any antifreeze if it spills. Contact us on 01420 82163 immediately if you suspect your pet has drunk or licked the antifreeze.
12. Burns and scalds - your dog may be keen to curl up to a hot radiator or open fire on cold days. Take care as burns or scalds can happen quickly, so always use a fireguard in front of any open hearth and keep a close check on your dog at all times. If your pet does start licking at an area of skin that has become particularly hot, place some cold wet flannels on the skin to cool it down and call us to have it checked. Burn injuries can be serious and take weeks to heal.
13. Chocolate – every year at Cedar Veterinary Group we see dogs that have eaten chocolate and are suffering from some serious side effects. Theobromine, a compound found naturally in chocolate and related to caffeine, can be fatal if eaten in high doses. Always check with us if your pet has eaten chocolate. We need to know how much and what type of chocolate.
14. Poinsettia plant – this is a very popular traditional houseplant with brightly coloured red leaves. The problem is the plant contains an irritant sap. Keep them out of the reach of dogs, cats and rabbits.
15. Holly and mistletoe – these plants are toxic to animals. Any pet that’s eaten them may develop vomiting, diarrhoea, excessive drooling and abdominal pain. Call us on 01420 82163 if you think your pet may have eaten them.

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Take your pet for a wellness exam. I recommend twice-yearly veterinary exams for all pets, and especially seniors, so making one of those visits in the fall or early winter is a good way to insure your dog, cat, or other companion is in good shape before the cold weather arrives.
Have your furnace inspected. It’s a good idea to have your heating unit checked for carbon monoxide leaks before winter sets in. Carbon monoxide is odorless and invisible, but it can cause serious health problems in both people and pets. Since your dog, cat or other animal companion very likely spends much more time at home than you do during the winter months, she’s more vulnerable to carbon monoxide poisoning.
If you use a fireplace or space heater, expect your pet to snuggle up to the warmth. Keep a close watch to insure no part of your pet’s body comes in contact with flames, heating coils or other hot surfaces. Your pet can easily burn herself or knock a heating unit over and put everyone in the house in danger.
Keep your pet indoors. I recommend keeping cats inside at all times (unless you have a secure outdoor cat enclosure for use during nice weather, or you take your cat on walks using a harness), but especially during winter. Accompany your dog outdoors when he needs to relieve himself or get some exercise. When you get cold enough to go back inside, chances are your dog is just as cold.
If your dog is a large breed, he’ll be able to tolerate cold temps and snow much better than a smaller dog. If your pet has a condition like diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease or an endocrine disorder, it can compromise his ability to regulate his own body heat. Pets with chronic disease, very young and older animals are more vulnerable to the cold than healthy youngsters and adults.
Make sure your dog’s ID tag is current and keep him on leash outdoors. More dogs go missing in the winter months than any other time of year. It’s very easy for your pet to lose his scent and get lost when snow or ice is on the ground, and especially during snowstorms. Snow accumulation can make it impossible for your dog to know if he’s in his front yard or standing out on a street or highway. Light-colored dogs with snow on their fur can quickly blend into the background, making them nearly impossible to spot.
Keep an eye out for outdoor cats. Hopefully you keep your cat inside, but your neighbors may not, or there could be strays or feral cats in the area. Kitties left out in cold temperatures will sometimes crawl up under the hoods of cars or into the wheel wells. Starting or moving the vehicle can hurt or even kill a cat taking shelter inside a car. So during winter months, it’s a good idea to bang loudly on your car hood before starting the engine as a warning to a cat that might be in or around your vehicle.
Be careful with your dog near water. If you live near a pond, lake or other inland water source that tends to freeze over during cold weather, take care when letting your dog off the leash. Animals can easily fall through the ice, and it’s very difficult for them to escape on their own, or for humans to rescue them.
Wipe down your dog after a trip outdoors. Pets who go outside during the winter months can pick up rock salt, ice, antifreeze, and other toxic chemicals on their footpads. To keep your dog’s paws from becoming chapped and raw, and to prevent ingestion of toxins, thoroughly wipe off his feet, legs, and underside after he’s been outside in the snow and ice. Also regularly check your pet’s paws for any signs of injury or bleeding from walking on frozen or snow-packed surfaces.
Consider investing in a sweater for a short-haired, older or frail pet. Some pets won’t wear items of clothing no matter how chilly they are. But if your pet tolerates it well, a sweater can help keep your dog warm, especially when you take her outdoors. But keep in mind that pets lose most of their body heat through the pads of their feet, their ears and their respiratory tract, so there’s a limit to how much warmth a sweater or jacket will provide.
Signs your pet is uncomfortably cold include whining, shivering, appearing anxious, slowing down or stopping, and looking for a warm place to burrow.
Let your pet’s coat grow. Don’t shave or clip your dog’s (or cat’s) coat short during the winter months. A longer coat will keep her warmer.
Be extra-cautious with your senior, arthritic or frail pet. Cold weather can be especially difficult for senior pets and those with degenerative joint disease or another chronic, debilitating condition. Talk with your holistic vet about physical therapy and other safe, natural methods for improving your pet’s comfort and mobility during cold weather. And make sure your pet has a thick, soft bed in a warm room for naps and at bedtime.