Vet offers tips for keeping pets safe in winter

  • Published
  • By Capt. Erin Brown
  • RAF Feltwell Veterinary Clinic
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Cold, wet, weather can present a variety of hazards for your pet, so here are a few tips to keep your whole family warm, safe and snug as we celebrate the coming holiday season.

Generally, most pets are happier and safer when kept indoors with their families, especially during a cold, wet British winter.  Make sure your animal has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from drafts. A cozy dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow is perfect.

Though heavy snow isn't typically a problem in this area, it's important that you never let your dog off the leash on snow or ice, especially during a snowstorm. Dogs can lose their scent and easily become lost. More dogs are lost during the winter than during any other season, so make sure yours is micro-chipped and that your registration with the company is current and up-to-date.

Furthermore, it is advisable to make sure that your dog wears a brightly colored, reflective safety vest on walks, due to the frequency of dark, foggy, rainy conditions in this area.

Avoid shaving your dog down to the skin in winter, as a longer coat will provide more warmth. When you bathe your dog in the colder months, be sure that it is completely dry before going outside for a walk.

If you own a short-haired or miniature breed, consider getting a coat or sweater. Much like small breed dogs, puppies do not tolerate the cold as well as adult dogs, so they may be difficult to housebreak during the winter.

If your dog is sensitive to the cold due to age, illness or breed type, take it outdoors only for bathroom breaks. If the temperature is below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, all puppies, miniature or short-haired breeds should be kept indoors. Once the temperature dips below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, it's best to keep all dogs inside.

If your dog spends more time indoors during the winter, then it is probably getting less exercise. As a result, they may need less food. On the other hand, if your dog spends a lot of time in the winter engaged in outdoor activities, then it's a good idea to increase the supply of food in order to produce the energy to maintain body heat and to keep their fur in tip-top shape.

Make sure your pet is well groomed - matted fur will not properly protect an animal from the cold. Additionally, they should always have a fresh, unfrozen supply of water available to ensure their ability to burn calories and keep warm.

Be sure to wipe off your pet's legs and stomach with a damp towel when it comes in out of the sleet, snow or ice. They can ingest salt, antifreeze or other potentially dangerous chemicals while licking their paws, and the paw pads may also bleed from snow or encrusted ice. If your pet will tolerate them, soft boots can help avoid that.

As in the summer, do not leave your pet in the car. Extreme weather outside, leads to extreme weather inside a vehicle. The ear tips, foot pads, the tail and external genitalia are typically the first areas of the body to be injured by low temperatures - those areas can become "frostbitten" and lose circulation, leading to necrosis, tissue loss or even death.

If your pet is left outside or in a car in extreme weather and you suspect that a cold stress injury has occurred, move them into a warm room, with plenty of blankets (from the dryer) and call your local veterinarian immediately.

Beware that heating pads can cause thermal burns when placed directly against the skin, so if used, place several blankets between the animal and the pad. Do not immerse the animal in warm water - that can be very painful and wet animals lose body temperature much more quickly than dry ones.

During the winter, outdoor cats like to sleep under the hoods of cars, where it's warm. When the motor is started, the cat can be killed by the fan belt. So, if there are outdoor cats in your area, it's a good idea to bang loudly on the car hood before starting the engine to give the cat a chance to escape.

Antifreeze should be out of pet's reach. Antifreeze, which contains ethylene glycol, is extremely poisonous - a few teaspoons can be lethal. Its sweet taste attracts pets, and ingesting even a tiny amount causes fatal kidney toxicity.

Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle. Better yet, use the new types of antifreeze such as Prestone LowTox and Sierra Antifreeze Coolant that are safer. If you suspect that your pet has been exposed to antifreeze, call your local emergency veterinary clinic right away.

Finally, don't forget that a new pet doesn't make a good "surprise" gift during the holiday season. The decision to add a new family member to your household is a big one, and should be thoroughly discussed.

The months after the holiday season are the worst for surrendering unwanted pets, so let's try not to contribute to the homeless puppies and kittens - please make an informed, well researched decision when acquiring a pet.