Cold Weather and Holiday Care Tips
- Check your outdoor dog/cat's water frequently. They must have water to help in controlling their body temperature – a frozen block of ice won't do any good. Heated water bowls are available at pet supply stores.
- Be sure your outdoor dog or cat has shelter. Consider a door or cover to the dog/cat house to block wind. A cold wind heading directly in the entry of the house will quickly diminish any sheltering the house provides. You should also provide some insulation to the house/shelter. Straw and/or store-bought insulation may be an option. You may also consider options for safely heating the house.
- Don't assume that outdoor cats will find warm shelter in the winter. Cats often freeze when left outside without support. Particularly, their ears, tail and toe pads are at risk for frostbite. There are organizations that have simple designs for cat shelters that are easy and inexpensive to assemble.
- If you keep your pet in the garage, remember that on very cold nights, they are still at risk. The same recommendations for water, and warmth/insulation apply.
- Keep your cat inside. Outdoors, cats can freeze, become lost or stolen, injured or killed. Cats who are allowed to stray are exposed to fatal infectious diseases.
- During the winter, outdoor cats sometimes choose to sleep under the hoods of cars, where it is warmer. When the motor is started, the cat can be injured or killed in the fan. Before starting your car engine, bang loudly on the car hood for a few seconds to give a cat a chance to escape.
- Never let your dog off the leash on snow or ice, especially during a snowstorm. Dogs frequently lose their scent in snow and ice and easily become lost. They may panic in a snowstorm and run away. More dogs are lost during the winter than during any other season.
- Thoroughly wipe off your dog's legs and stomach when he or she comes in out of the rain, snow or ice. Salt, antifreeze or other chemicals could hurt your dog if he or she ingests them while licking his or her paws. Also your dog’s sensitive paw pads may hurt and/or bleed from snow or ice encrusted on them.
- If your dog is sensitive to the cold due to age, illness, breed type, take him outdoors only long enough to relieve himself.
- Puppies do not tolerate the cold as well as adult dogs and may be difficult to housebreak during the winter. If necessary, paper-train your puppy inside if he appears to be sensitive to the weather.
- If your dog spends a lot of time engaged in outdoor activities, increase his supply of food to keep his fur thick and healthy.
- Antifreeze, even in very tiny doses, is a lethal poison for dogs and cats. Unfortunately, because of its sweet taste, animals are attracted to it. Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle to prevent accidental poisonings. More and more people are using animal-friendly products that contain propylene glycol rather than traditional products containing ethylene glycol. Call your veterinarian or the poison control center if you suspect that your companion animal has been poisoned.
- Never shave your dog in winter. Leave the coat in a longer style, for more warmth. Remember that such a style will require more frequent brushing due to dry winter air and static electricity. When you bathe your dog, completely dry her before taking her out for a walk.
- Make sure your dog and/or cat have a warm place to sleep far away from all drafts and off the floor, such as in a dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow in it.
The Holidays and Your Cat or Dog
Pets are not good Christmas gifts! Even if you are sure that your recipient wants a pet, this is not a good time to give them one. A certificate or stuffed animal representing a real cat or dog, works great. The dog or cat can then be adopted after the excitement of the holidays has passed. There is simply too much happening for a proper introduction of a new cat or dog to the household during the holidays. Additionally, so many times people we think want or need a pet really don't. Visit an animal shelter in January or February to see for yourself the Christmas presents returned!
Holiday hazards:
Tinsel: Cats will eat it and it can be very hazardous to their intestinal tract. If you must use tinsel, avoid using it on the the lower 1-2 feet of your tree.
The same goes for Christmas ribbon – cats may love to play with it, but it is very dangerous if ingested.
Chocolate can be deadly to cats and will make both cats and dogs sick. Keep chocolate out of reach.
Chocolate can be lethal to cats and dogs because it contains theobromine, which causes increased heart rate, overstimulation of the central nervous system and constriction of arteries. Symptoms range from vomiting, diarrhea and hyper behavior to cardiac failure, seizures and death. Baking chocolate is the worst because it contains the highest amount of theobromine.
If your dog has ingested some chocolate and is acting very agitated put Rescue Remedy or Animal Emergency Trauma Solution in her water and feed her a lot of water to flush the system.
Poisonous holiday plants for cats: poinsettia, mistletoe.
Keep your cat or dog out of the Christmas tree water. It becomes mixed with sap from the tree and can make your dog or cat nauseated.
