If you’re cold, your pet is cold. Here are five of the best ways to make sure your pets are kept healthy, happy, and safe during the winter months.
Winter is coming – and it’s not the White Walkers you need to pay attention to. Where is your pet, and are you making sure they’re ready for the cold months? Few pet owners are ensuring their animal companions are as happy about the snowy months as they are. Whether you have a cat, a dog, a rabbit, or some other kind of animal friend, if they have access to the outdoors, you need to be aware of how much danger winter presents to them.
According to the
Animal Legal Defense Fund, the most common report they receive during the cold months is about pets suffering because their owners didn’t take the time or the right precautions against the harsh weather.
One Green Planet also has many heartbreaking stories of dogs or cats being found frozen to death in yards, and not always from malicious intent; their owners didn’t know the danger they were in.
Here is your guide to winter safety for animals, so you can keep your pet safe, happy, and enjoying the winter months as much as you do.
1. Bring Them In
“Animals have coats; they’ll be fine,” is usually what people say. It’s a fair argument – but what most pet owners forget is that your domesticated pet has adjusted much like you adjust, and are not prepared to handle extreme temperatures. This is extremely harmful for your animal, especially for pets who already have health concerns such as arthritis, where the cold can only worsen their condition. If you’re uncomfortable with the temperature, assume your pet is as well, and bring them inside where the temperature is regulated. They do have winter coats, but these coats are not always enough, especially for small breeds which have the durability of their seasonal coats bred out of them. Having a pet indoors can be messy, so while they’re adjusting to the idea, you should pick up some ideas on
how to keep your carpets clean.
2. Watch Your Car
Nothing is better than a warm car in the winter season—and animals think so too! Cats often gather underneath hoods or on top of tires in order to keep warm during the cold months, and this can lead to many unfortunate accidents. To make sure the unsuspecting animals are safe, be sure to check around your car before you start it up, so that any neighborhood cats, wild animals, or even an escaped pet rabbit hasn’t crawled up against your tire.
3. Pay Attention to Antifreeze
Antifreeze ensures our cars function properly during the winter months, but for an animal, this can be a worst case scenario. A harmless sense of curiosity can lead your pet to licking up some of the green substance, and it will be instantly fatal. Be sure to keep a close eye on your car, and don’t let your cat roam the neighborhood when it’s cold out. On the off chance they wander into a driveway and lap something off the concrete, there’s nothing left but the crying.
4. Make Sure Your Pets Get the Energy They Need
Shivering takes energy. Do you ever feel more exhausted after a walk in the winter time rather than summer time? Your pets do as well. This is because your body is working overtime in order to fight against the cold trying to shut down your organs—and your pets are doing the same. Even if your pet is on a diet, be sure to “up” the amount of food they consume in the next few months so they have the energy to devote to battling against the cold temperatures.
5. Have Fun with Pet Sweaters
Your family may laugh at you, but pet sweaters are cute and healthy. By decking your pet out in the latest winter fashions, you’re not only guaranteeing yourself an adorable picture to share on Facebook, but ensuring that your pets are warm enough for the chilly season. In the same way you have to put on additional clothing to stay warm, your pet needs help adjusting to the difference in temperatures. Smaller breeds find it more difficult to adjust, and can actually suffer extreme effects in their health. Rather than risking it, be sure to wrap your puppies in thick coats so that they have an extra measure against the cold when they’re away from your furnace.
[tweetthis]It’s cold! Is your #pet safe this winter? [/tweetthis]
Keeping your beloved family pet—or furry child—safe this winter is as easy as giving them extra shelter and food, paying careful attention to their needs, keeping them away from hazards, and dressing them up! The opposite season requires some safety measures, too; don’t forget to familiarize yourself with these
handy tips for the summer season. Your loyal companion will thank you for your efforts, in their own unique ways.
