freezing dogs
Pets

Freezing Dogs: Deadly Winter Weather

Freezing Dogs:  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. To help prevent cold weather dangers from affecting your pet’s health, please heed the following advice from our experts: American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®

 Freezing Dogs

  • Keep your home humidified and towel dry your pet as soon as he comes inside,
  • Remove any snow balls from between his foot pads.
  • Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter
  • Trim long-haired dogs  to minimize the clinging ice balls, salt crystals and de-icing chemicals.
  • For a short haired  freezing dogsdog , consider getting him a coat or sweater with a high collar or turtleneck with coverage from the base of the tail to the belly. For many dogs, this is regulation winter wear.
  • Bring a towel on long walks to clean off stinging, irritated paws.
  • After each walk, wash and dry your pet’s feet and stomach to remove ice, salt and chemicals—and check for cracks in paw pads or redness between the toes.
  • Bathe your pets as little as possible during cold spells.
  •  Washing too often can remove essential oils and increase the chance of developing dry, flaky skin.
  • If your pooch must be bathed, ask your vet to recommend a moisturizing shampoo and/or rinse.
  • Massaging petroleum jelly or other paw protectants into paw pads before going outside 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.
  • Use pet-friendly ice melts whenever possible.
  • Like coolant, 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.
  •  Feeding your pet a little bit more during the cold weather months can provide much-needed calories.
  • Making sure she has plenty of water to drink will help keep her well-hydrated and her skin less dry.
  • Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts.
  • Dressing your pet in heating garment
  • Remember, if it’s too cold for you, it’s probably too cold for your pet, so keep your animals inside.