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NJSPCA - Cold Weather Tips
The following will help you protect your animals when the mercury dips.
1. Keep your cat inside. Outdoors, felines can freeze, become
lost or be stolen, injured or killed. Cats who are allowed to
stray are exposed to infectious diseases, including rabies,
from other cats, dogs and wildlife.
2. During the winter, outdoor cats sometimes sleep under
the hoods of cars. When the motor is started, the cat can be
injured or killed by the fan belt. If there are outdoor cats in
your area, bang loudly on the car hood before starting the
engine to give the cat a chance to escape.
3. 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 always wears ID tags.
4. Thoroughly wipe off your dog's legs and stomach when
he comes in out of the sleet, snow or ice. He can ingest salt,
antifreeze or other potentially dangerous chemicals while
licking his paws, and his paw pads may also bleed from
snow or encrusted ice.
5. Never shave 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 to completely dry
him before taking him out for a walk. Own a short-haired
breed? 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.
6. Never leave your dog or cat alone in a car during cold
weather. A car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding
in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death.
7. Puppies do not tolerate the cold as well as adult dogs,
and may be difficult to housebreak during the winter. If
your puppy appears to be sensitive to the weather, you
may opt to paper-train him inside. If your dog is sensitive
to the cold due to age, illness or breed type, take him
outdoors only to relieve themselves.
8. Does your dog spend a lot of time engaged in outdoor
activities? Increase his supply of food, particularly protein,
to keep him-and his fur-in tip-top shape.
9. 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. Visit the NJSPCA VIDEO ON
ANTIFREEZE for more information.
10. Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to
sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A cozy dog or
cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow is perfect.
Poison Control Center's 24-hour hotline at (888) 426-4435.
Posted on SHARE Yahoo group - Jan. 12, 2009