Let's talk weather!

Source: ASCPA

Exposure to winter’s dry, cold air and chilly rain, sleet and snow can cause chapped paws and itchy, flaking skin, but these aren’t the only discomforts pets can suffer. Winter walks can become downright dangerous if chemicals from ice-melting agents are licked off of bare paws. To help prevent cold weather dangers from affecting your pet’s health, please heed the following advice from our experts:

• Repeatedly coming out of the cold into the dry heat of your home can cause itchy, flaking skin. Keep your home humidified and towel dry your pet as soon as he comes inside, paying special attention to his feet and in-between the toes. Remove any snow balls from between his foot pads.
• Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter, as a longer coat will provide more warmth. If your dog is long-haired, simply trim him to minimize the clinging ice balls, salt crystals and de-icing chemicals that can dry his skin, and don’t neglect the hair between his toes. If your dog is short-haired, 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.
• Pets burn extra energy by trying to stay warm in wintertime. Feeding your pet a little bit more during the cold weather months can provide much-needed calories, and 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. A cozy dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow is perfect.
• Remember, if it’s too cold for you, it’s probably too cold for your pet, so keep your animals inside. 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.

Source: ASCPA

Keeping OUTDOOR Pets Warm In The Winter

Winter and summer both present challenges to keeping pets safe and comfortable, but winter is actually easier to prepare for since it’s more about preventing exposure and less about the summer problem of preventing accidents. With one major exception: In cold weather, you always need to be aware of the possibility that a chilly cat could be cuddled against the warm engine of a recently parked car or in the dryer on a pile of warm clothes. Always check your dryer before using it, and thump the hood of your car before starting it to send any sleeping cat on his way.

neighbors would never intentionally cause a pet to suffer in the winter or any other time. But sometimes people just don’t have enough information or are just "doing it the way it has always been done.” Education is always a big part of a doctor’s job, and I pride myself on doing the best I can to offer good advice in a nonjudgmental way that encourages questions and discussion.

Your pet will weather winter better if he’s healthy, so check in with your vet to be sure. Otherwise, here are my winter weather tips for your pets.

Gimme Shelter and Warmth

In my lifetime, many dog and cats have gone from the barnyard to the backyard to the bedroom. I still remember as a boy the day when my dad first allowed our farm dog to sleep in the kitchen during a blizzard. Now I fight for space on my own bed with our pets.

I’m not going to get into a discussion of whether any pet should be outside only, but I will say that small dogs and older pets are ill-equipped to handle extreme cold, and there’s a world of difference between a big, long-haired cat and a near-naked Sphynx or lightly coated Rex cat. Same is true of an Alaskan Malamute or Italian Greyhound.

For animals who are spending time outside, whether just during the day or all the time, it’s essential that they have shelter that protects them from wind, rain and snow, and that it is small and well insulated enough for the pet’s own body heat to keep the temperature up. Even better: Use hay and blankets to keep shelters cozy or talk with a contractor and even your vet about safe options for heating your pet's space.

For inside pets, soft, warm places to snooze are a must, especially if you have tile, stone or wood floors instead of carpeting. Older pets, especially, will appreciate thick beds with egg-crate-type padding.

Protect the Feet and the Fur

Every winter it’s with regret that we clip the fur off our little Quixote’s adorable fuzzy feet, but those long hairs between his pads make it easy for ice balls to form. But even for dogs who don’t have Quixote’s problem, protecting the feet with boots isn’t a bad idea. For small indoor dogs the boots keep feet warm, but for all dogs in snow country boots can protect them from the toxins found in some deicing formulas. Even if you put boots on your pooch, I’d still recommend cleaning his feet when he comes in, just to be safe. (Bonus: It helps keep down tracking!)

And what about clothes for dogs? Again, it depends on the dog. The same kinds of dogs I mentioned as not suitable for life outdoors — small, older or thin-coated — really could use a jacket or sweater when they head out for a walk or to potty.

Fresh Water and Food Adjustments

People aren’t the only ones who put on weight from Thanksgiving to New Year's. Decreased activity and increased availability of goodies have predictable results. I always recommend offering dogs healthy, low-cal treats like carrot sticks (dogs seems to like them better than people do) or breaking bigger biscuits into smaller treats to keep overall consumption down. Outside pets, by contrast, need more food as they burn calories to stay warm.

And don’t forget water! A frozen landscape means frozen water in outdoor dishes. Check with your favorite pet supply retailers for heated bowls so your pet always has a supply of fresh water to drink.

With the basics covered, you can get out and enjoy the season with your pet. Our dogs love playing fetch in the snow, and the chance to dive into a drift makes the game more fun!

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