Keeping Fluffy and Fido Safe in Cold Weather

With the snow still falling and wind chills dipping below zero lately, actively protecting your pets from the elements is necessary.

To help you keep your pets safe, veterinarians from and shared the following information and tips to keep furry friends safe and healthy through the winter doldrums:

Venturing outdoors

Letting cats outside is not a good idea in the winter, according to Kristi Yee, associate veterinarian at Goodison Veterinary Center. She said the winter months are the peak time for wild animals to be hungry so the best way for cats not to become prey is to keep them inside. Veterinarian Tom Barkham Jr. of Paint Creek Animal Clinic agreed, saying coyotes are a problem in the area.

If cats are adamant about going outside, Yee recommended a compromise. “If the cat really wants to go outside, then I recommend putting the cat in the garage because then they get the (cold) temperature, but you know they’re safe,” Yee said.

She cautioned that dogs and cats alike can get lost easy in the snow because they lose their scent.

Still, dogs need to be let out regardless of the weather, but Yee and Barkham said it is important to keep the time outside to a minimum.

Once the temperature drops to the single digits, 10 minutes is an acceptable amount of time for a pooch to frolic in the snow, Barkham said. A safe length of time outside is dependent on the size of the dog, length of the coat and wind chill, Yee said.

Hypothermia and frostbite can be problems with animals because owners frequently forget they let their animals outside. Yee said people in the area tend to be pretty good about tending to their pets, but she has seen two cases of frostbite at the clinic this season. Barkham hasn't seen any.

Injuries relating to slipping on ice, Barkham said, are more common injuries. Knee and leg injuries, such as tearing ACL ligaments, are the most common consequences to slipping.

Returning indoors

Although some pet owners dress their animals for the weather with booties and sweaters, it is important to take the winter wear off once the pet returns indoors. Many times owners don't think to take off the wet clothing, which is not healthy for the dog, Yee said.

Likewise, when dogs come back inside it is important to dry them off. Salt from walkways will often accumulate on the bottom of their paws and snowballs and ice can cling to a dog's fur and become irritating to the pet. To curb the problem, Yee said owners could take the dog's paws into their hands and melt the snowballs that way. Owners can also use a dry towel to wipe off their pet's paws.

“The salt is not toxic and won’t hurt them, but if it gets stuck in the paw pads like the snow or ice, it can become very irritating,” Yee said.

Watching winter weight

To keep dogs healthy and active through the winter season when they can’t be outdoors, Yee suggests treadmills. Dogs work well with the machines, she said, but setting a low speed and good supervision are imperative.

“It’s something that may seem crazy to people, but something that dogs really will do,” Barkham said.

Yee also suggested playing hide and seek with toys and fetch indoors with dogs. New toys for cats can spark activity and teasing with lasers can be an entertaining way for them to get exercise. For both specimens, Yee suggested reducing pets' daily meals by one-fourth cup.

“Come winter, we need to keep our animals active and burn off those extra treats that they get,” Barkham said. “If they don’t get exercise it hurts their joints and bodies in the long run.”