Cold Weather Tips
- Antifreeze is a lethal poison for dogs and cats. Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle, and consider using products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol. Visit the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center more information.
- Chocolate in all forms can be very dangerous for dogs and cats. Candy wrappers can also be hazardous if swallowed.
- Never leave your dog or cat alone in a car during cold weather. A car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death.
- Keep wires and cords from electric lights and other decorations out of reach of your pets. Your pet could receive a possibly life-threatening electrical shock. Pieces of plastic and glass ingested by your pet can also cause serious harm.
- When opening the door for holiday visitors, take care that your cat or dog doesn’t dart outside. Just in case, always make sure your dog or cat has an id collar on.
- Antidepressants are used more often this time of year to help humans battle the blues and combat the cold and dark months. Just be certain to keep them and all prescription and over- the-counter drugs out of your pet’s reach as they can be lethal even in small doses to animals.
- Keeping your pet outside all the time is not a good idea in any weather, but if you must do this, provide clean water and a warm, dry shelter protected from the wind, rain and snow at all times.
- Keep your cat inside. Cats can freeze, become lost or be stolen, injured or killed. Cats who are allowed to stray are exposed to infectious diseases, dogs and wildlife.
- If there are outdoor cats in your area, bang loudly on the car hood before starting the engine to give any sleeping strays a chance to escape.
- Thoroughly wipe off your dog’s legs and stomach when he comes in out of the sleet, snow or ice. He can ingest salt, antifreeze or other potentially dangerous chemicals while licking his paws, and his paw pads may also bleed from snow or encrusted ice.
- If you bathe your dog in the colder months, be sure to completely dry him before taking him out for a walk. If you have a smaller, older or otherwise fragile dog, consider getting him a coat or sweater that protects the back and belly.
