How to Keep Pets Safe During the Winter

Proper Care for Cats and Dogs When the Weather Gets Cold

Jan 14, 2009

Winter can be a great time of year. However, winter can quickly become dangerous to a pet if the owner doesn't know how to keep him safe from the elements.

Winter is a great time for holidays, scenic wonderlands, and cold weather. Most pets enjoy being outside and playing in the snow. It is a also a time of real hazards. Here are a few ways to help make sure a pet is kept safe this winter both inside the house and outside playing.

Avoid Pet Burns

Remember to keep a pet safe from burns. Winter means fireplaces, candles, and heaters. It is also the most common time of the year for house fires as well. Be sure to keep pets away from wood stoves and other heating surfaces. When stoking a fire take care to keep pets away for fear of escaping sparks causing burns. A single burning ember or a hot poker can cause severe burns, as well.

Candles are very popular nowadays, but no more so than during the holidays. They are also listed as one of the top three causes of house fires. Jumping cats, wagging tails, and running dogs can easily knock a candle over. Be sure the candle is heavy enough to stay put, and that it has a dome on it to keep pets safe. Do not ever leave a room with a lit candle.

Cars and Pets Don't Mix

Winter means that antifreeze is very plentiful around the house and throughout a neighborhood. The ethylene glycol in antifreeze is extremely toxic and can be fatal, even if only a small amount is ingested. There are many brands of antifreeze available on the market today that do not contain this chemical. Be sure the caps are on tightly and they are kept out of the reach of children and curious pets.

Cats often warm up next to a warm engine. This can be fatal when the engine is started, and the cat being hit by the vehicle's fan. Blowing a horn before starting the engine can often scare a cat away, keeping him safe, and only a little frazzled.

Dangerous Weather Elements

Frostbite is an injury to the tissues of the body that can happen when a pet is exposed to freezing cold temperatures, especially if accompanied by very high winds. Make sure to keep a pet warm by placing him in a sweater, if staying outside for an extended period of time. It is best to keep him inside if the temperature drops below freezing. If this is not feasible, make sure he has a warm doghouse and warm bedding.

Keep a pet off the frozen water of lakes and ponds, unless it has been tested and proven safe by the owner. If a weak area of the ice cracks, a pet can fall through. Hypothermia, or a lowering of the body's temperature, can occur very quickly. Be sure to keep your pet safe around these conditions.

Protecting a pet's feet is very important. Many times the rock salt used to melt ice on driveways and sidewalks can burn a pet's feet. He could also suffer from diarrhea and vomiting, if he licks his paws and ingests some of the rock salt. Wiping your pet's feet off before he comes inside should help to prevent this.

Providing fresh water is a must during cold weather. It does not take long for water to freeze outside when temperatures dip to below freezing. Make sure to provide fresh, unfrozen water by checking on its condition at least every 30 minutes to an hour.

These are just some of the ways to help keep pets safe during the winter months. Remember that a pet can't tell his owner when he is cold. The owner must provide the pet with adequate shelter, food, and water during this cold part of the year. Letting a pet inside will not hurt the home as much as leaving him outside can hurt him.

The copyright of the article How to Keep Pets Safe During the Winter in Pet Care is owned by Denise Oliveri. Permission to republish How to Keep Pets Safe During the Winter in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.