Protecting Your Dog and Cat in the Winter Months.

harsh winter weather.  All too many of the ones that will suffer this season are pets, dogs and cats left outside during bitter cold.  It seems that people would just understand that dogs and cats need to be inside during the cold weather, however every county has Cruelty Investigators that respond to all too many cases every year about animals being left in the cold. 

• Keep your cat inside.  Cats can freeze or become prey to wildlife looking for their next meal.  Coyotes and foxes become more driven to get food in the winter months, so they come closer to homes and neighborhoods. Provide shelter for stray animals that you see may need your helps.  Leave food and water, as stray need to increase their
  
  food intake 15 -20% in the winter for survival.
• Wipe down your dog’s paws, legs and stomach when he comes in from the snow, sleet, or ice.  Dogs can easily ingest salt, antifreeze or other life threatening chemicals from their paws or pads.  
• Provide a warm dog bed, preferable elevated outdoor bed, shelter, dog blanket, water in a thermal bowl, if left outside for any length of time. 

• If you know of stray animals in your area, please try to provide them with water, food, shelter and dog blankets.  They too need help getting through these cold winter months.
• Just like in the summer months, please do not leave your dog or cat in the car during the winter months.  Your car acts as a refrigerator and can easily cause death to an animal.
• Dogs lose most of their body heat from their paw pads, ears and through respiration, so dress them in a dog coat and dog boots if you plan to have them outside for any length of time.
• Listen to your dog when you have them outside…signs that your dog is uncomfortable in the cold include, whining, shivering, anxiety or lethargy. 
• Puppies and old dogs do not tolerate the cold as well as the average dog, so be sure to keep them inside as much as possible.  Puppy training may be more difficult in the winter months, so you may want to try paper training and work towards full house training in the spring.
• Exercising your dog is still important in the winter months.  Apply paw protection to their pads to help protect them from ice and snow.  Dog boots and a dog coat will help protect your dog on a walk. 
• Antifreeze is deadly to dogs and cats and can be completely preventable.  Dispose of antifreeze properly and don’t leave an antifreeze container in an area that your dog can get to.  If a spill occurs hose down with water until it no longer has a green color. 
• Watch out for cats that may seek shelter in car engines.  Stray cats are trying to find a warm place to sleep and often climb up in the car engine.  If you know you have cats around your area, make noise and tap your car hood before starting your car.