Cold Weather Pet Tips
By: Amanda Ashley
Updated: December 11, 2012
As the temperatures drop, our furry friends need special attention to stay safe in the snow.
Although our pets come equipped with fur coats, they can still suffer from frostbite and exposure.
PETA is offering some helpful tips for keeping our pets cozy and healthy in the winter weather:
Keep animals inside. This is especially important to remember when it comes to puppies and kittens, elderly animals, small animals, and dogs with short hair, including pointers, beagles, pit bulls, Rottweilers, and Dobermans. Short-haired animals will also benefit from a warm sweater or coat on walks.
Don't try to keep animals warm with kerosene lamps. Animals could easily knock the lamp over and burn themselves on the open flame or cause a fire.
Don't allow your cat or dog to roam freely outdoors. During winter, cats sometimes climb under the hoods of cars to be near warm engines and are badly injured or killed when the car is started.
Wipe off your dogs' or cats' legs, feet, and stomachs after they come in from the snow. Salt and other chemicals can make your animals sick if they ingest them. You should also increase animals' food rations during the winter because they are burning more calories to keep warm.
Keep an eye out for strays. Take unidentified animals inside until you can find their guardians or get them to an animal shelter. If strays are skittish or otherwise unapproachable, provide food and water and call your local humane society for assistance in trapping them and getting them indoors.
When you see dogs who have been left outdoors, provide them with proper shelter. Details on how to provide housing can be found here.
When temperatures fall below freezing, birds and other animals may have trouble finding food and water. Hang bird feeders from trees or spread birdseed on the ground. Provide access to liquid water by filling a heavy water bowl and breaking the surface ice twice a day.
Photo Credit: Christi Sanders
Although our pets come equipped with fur coats, they can still suffer from frostbite and exposure.
PETA is offering some helpful tips for keeping our pets cozy and healthy in the winter weather:
Keep animals inside. This is especially important to remember when it comes to puppies and kittens, elderly animals, small animals, and dogs with short hair, including pointers, beagles, pit bulls, Rottweilers, and Dobermans. Short-haired animals will also benefit from a warm sweater or coat on walks.
Don't try to keep animals warm with kerosene lamps. Animals could easily knock the lamp over and burn themselves on the open flame or cause a fire.
Don't allow your cat or dog to roam freely outdoors. During winter, cats sometimes climb under the hoods of cars to be near warm engines and are badly injured or killed when the car is started.
Wipe off your dogs' or cats' legs, feet, and stomachs after they come in from the snow. Salt and other chemicals can make your animals sick if they ingest them. You should also increase animals' food rations during the winter because they are burning more calories to keep warm.
Keep an eye out for strays. Take unidentified animals inside until you can find their guardians or get them to an animal shelter. If strays are skittish or otherwise unapproachable, provide food and water and call your local humane society for assistance in trapping them and getting them indoors.
When you see dogs who have been left outdoors, provide them with proper shelter. Details on how to provide housing can be found here.
When temperatures fall below freezing, birds and other animals may have trouble finding food and water. Hang bird feeders from trees or spread birdseed on the ground. Provide access to liquid water by filling a heavy water bowl and breaking the surface ice twice a day.
Photo Credit: Christi Sanders
