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Winter Care
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| Indoor dogs do not tolerate cold weather well. Go for shorter walks more often. Clean road salt from your pet's feet to protect them from chemical burns. Outdoor dogs need a well insulated house with floor, roof, and four walls that retain their body heat. If temperatures drop below zero bring your dog indoors to the coolest part of the house, which is usually the basement. Some animals can remain outside safely longer in the winter than others. Cats and small dogs that have to wade shoulder-deep in the snow will feel the cold sooner than larger animals. Your pet's health will also affect how long she can stay out. Conditions like diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, and hormonal imbalances can compromise a pet's ability to regulate her own body heat. Regardless of their health, though, no pets should stay outside for unlimited amounts of time in freezing cold weather. Provide fresh water in outside bowls every 3 to 4 hours since water freezes rapidly. Outdoor dogs need an increase in food amounts to boost caloric intake in order to maintain body weight and help regulate body temperature. Pets are attracted to the sweet smell and taste of antifreeze which kills thousands of pets each year. Just a couple teaspoons can kill a pet. Check vehicles for leaks, boil overs, and improperly stored containers of leftover antifreeze. Consider purchasing safe pet antifreeze. Hypothermia, or a body temperature that is below normal, is a condition that occurs when an animal is not able to keep her body temperature from falling below normal. It happens when animals spend too much time in cold temperatures, or when animals with poor health or circulation are exposed to cold. In mild cases, animals will shiver and show signs of depression, lethargy, and weakness. As the condition progresses, an animal's muscles will stiffen, her heart and breathing rates will slow down, and she will stop responding to stimuli. If you notice these symptoms, you need to get your pet warm and take her to your veterinarian. You can wrap her in blankets, possibly with a hot water bottle or an electric blanket--as always, wrapped in fabric to prevent against burning the skin. In severe cases, your veterinarian can monitor her heart rate and blood pressure and give warm fluids through an IV. Cats will curl up against almost anything to stay warm--including car engines. If there are stray cats common to your home area check car engines or honk your horn before starting the engine. Holiday paraphernalia- Electric cords, tinsel, glass ornaments, candles, spray on-snow (some are non-toxic-read the label), ribbons, plastic or foil wrapping, etc. can be dangerous to your pet. Cover up or hide electric cords, never let your pet chew on them. Do not tie ribbons around pets necks or limbs. Do not hang ornaments on lower branches of Christmas trees for curious animals to knock off and use as toys. |
 Traveling with Your Pet The following web sites provide PetsOnTheGo.com |
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If you see an outdoor animal that is does not have adequate winter care please call
412-321-4625 ext 216 or fill out our online complaint form. |
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North Side • 1101 Western Ave Pittsburgh PA 15233 Kennels open weekdays 10:00 to 7:00 |