Keeping Your Pet Safe and Warm in the Winter

The holidays have come and gone, however the cold weather still remains.

As it continues to get colder by the day, a growing number of pet owners are concerned about the comfort and safety of their furry friends.

Here are some things we can do to keep our pets healthy and happy this winter. 

• Keep pets inside

• Provide adequate shelter inside and out

• Wear appropriate winter clothing

• Be aware of other small outdoor animals that are seeking warmth

Keep Pets Inside

It sounds simple enough, but there is a common misconception that due to their coat, cats and dogs are resistant to cold weather. While this may hold true to some degree with the Husky and other breeds, both dogs and cats are still susceptible to hypothermia and frostbite.

Eliminating free access to the outdoors in the winter is important to keep your pet safe and warm.

Provide adequate shelter inside and out

• Provide a warm cozy area inside that the pet will always have access to.
• Ensure the pet has a covered area to go to the bathroom should there be rain or snow outside
• If there are stray or outside cats in the area, consider providing a warm, dry shelter for them.

Wear appropriate winter clothing

Some pets have naturally thick coats, which can provide a buffer to freezing temperatures

• Certain breeds may require less clothing in cold weather; others more.
• For smaller, or shorter hair dogs, a jacket or a vest will keep the shivers at bay!
• For dogs with a winter coat already built in, a lighter jacket may still be required if the temperatures get low enough.
• If it is too cold for you, it is probably too cold for your pet!

Be aware of other small outdoor animals that are seeking warmth

Small critters will be drawn to the warmth of a vehicle’s engine bay once the car is parked.

• Be aware of cats or other small animals finding warmth next to your engine. If they are still occupying that space when the car starts, it could be fatal to the animal.
• In order to avoid this disastrous situation, it is recommended to:
  • tap or bang on the hood of the car
  • make lots of noise opening and closing the door
  • honk the horn before turning the ignition.

If you follow these simple winter weather tips, all of the animals in the neighborhood will have a Happy New Year!