Winter Awareness Tips

As winter approaches, pet owners should be reminded of cold weather-related concerns.
The ASPCA has issued the following guidelines for winter pet safety.

• Cats should be kept indoors
• Dogs should not be left off their leashes in snow or ice, especialy during a snowstorm because they can lose their scent in snow and ice and become lost.
• Because antifreeze is a lethal poison for dogs and cats, accidental spills should be cleaned up immediately! To prevent accidental poisoning, use animal-friendly products that contain propylene glycol instead of ethylene glycol.
• Dogs and cats should never be left alone in a car during cold weather. A car can act as a refrigerator, and the animal could freeze to death.
• Puppies do not tolerate the cold as well as adult dogs; therefore, housetraining may be difficult in the winter.
• Ice melt products may contain ingredients that can be very irritating to the skin and gastrointestinal tract. Ingestion may also result in severe effects such as depression, weakness, disorientation, cardiac problems, siezures, coma, or even death.
• Companion animals should have a warm, draft-free place to sleep.
• Some dogs may be sensitive to the cold because of age, illnuess, or breed type; therefore, they should be taken outside only long enough to defecate.