How to Protect your Pet from the Cold Weather

How to Protect your Pet from the Cold Weather

By Dr. Dianne Hernandez, DVM - Bellalago Veterinary Hospital

Cold winter weather can cause problems with pets in any part of the country.  Even in Florida, pets can become accustomed to the warmer weather making even cooler temperatures feel COLD.  Here are some tips to keep your pets warm and healthy during the cold!

Keep your Pet Warm

Don't shave your dog down to the skin in winter, because a longer coat will provide more warmth.

Windchill can threaten you pet's life. Exposed skin on noses, ears and paw pads are at risk for frostbite and hypothermia during extreme cold weather. For this reason, keep your pet covered with a sweater even during short walks. 

Repeatedly coming out of the cold into the dry heat of your home can cause itchy, flaking skin. Keep your home humidified and towel dry your pet as soon as he comes inside, paying special attention to their feet and in-between the toes.

If you head north, rock salt and other chemicals used to melt snow and ice can irritate the pads of your pet's feet. Wipe all paws with a damp towel to avoid irritating their mouth when licking their feet.  Don't forget to dry feet and to remove any snow balls from between their foot pads.

Do not Bathe your Pet too Often

Bathe your pets as little as possible during cold weather. Washing too often can remove essential oils and increase the chance of developing dry, flaky skin. When bathing, use moisturizing shampoo and/or rinse recommended by your veterinarian.  We have a variety of shampoos for sale at our online pharmacy and here at the hospital.

Protect your Pet's Paw Pads

To protect your pet's paw pads, apply a small amount of petroleum jelly to your pet's paws.  Other paw protectants can be massaged into paw pads before going outside which can help protect from salt and chemical agents. Booties provide even more coverage and can also prevent sand and salt from getting lodged between bare toes and causing irritation.  Even though we live far enough south that this might not be necessary, just imagine how cute your pet would be with booties on!

Feed Appropriate Amounts and Calories

Pets can burn extra energy by trying to stay warm in wintertime. Feeding your pet a little bit more during the cold weather months can mean more calories to burn. Also, make sure your pet has plenty of water to drink to help keep them well-hydrated.  Feel free to contact us to find out about the right diet and amount for your pet.

Avoid Accidental Poisoning

Antifreeze is a deadly poison, but it has a sweet taste that can attract animals and children. Clean up any antifreeze spills immediately and keep it out of reach.  

Rock salt, if ingested, can cause salt poisoning in animals. Avoid this problem by wiping their paws and store de-icing salt in a safe place. If your dog ingests rock salt, call a veterinarian immediately.  Remember that vehicles driven up north can carry salt and shed it during washing or rainstorms in our driveways.  

Protect Outdoor Pets

If your pet is indoor/outdoor, keep it indoor only during the cold weather. If you are not able to keep it indoor, you can make your own outdoor pet shelter with a plastic container. Here is an easy to build option.

Animals living on screened porches still need additional shelter.  If you bring an animal in and  place them in the garage, remember to have all dangerous chemicals safely put away.

Warm engines can attract animals to crawl up under the hood looking for a warm place. To avoid injuring any hidden animals, bang on your car's hood to scare them away before starting your engine.

If It's too Cold for You, It's probably too Cold for your Pet!

Our pet's blood "thins" just like ours does.  Even though it might not be officially "freezing," it's still can be just as dangerous!  Keep your animals inside whenever possible. If left outdoors, pets can freeze, become disoriented, lost, stolen, injured or killed. In addition, don’t leave pets alone in a car during cold weather, as cars can act as refrigerators that hold in the cold and cause animals to freeze to death.

Even though we live in Florida, we still need to take precautions.  These simple tips will help keep your pet warm, happy, and healthy during cold weather.