How To Protect Your Pet During Frigid Temperatures: Suffolk SPCA

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — The dead of winter has arrived on Long Island. The Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has offered tips on how to keep pets safe during the freezing weather.

It is set to feel like 0 degrees or lower Monday night into Tuesday morning, according to the National Weather Service, which has issued a special weather statement for the region.

"Cold weather can be as dangerous for pets, as it is for humans," the Suffolk SPCA wrote in a news release. "Pets have a more difficult time regulating their body temperatures and may be more susceptible to problems from extreme temperatures."

The organization issued these tips:

• Keep your pets indoors during this frigid weather. If left unattended outdoors, they can get frostbite or become disorientated and freeze to death. Hypothermia can result from extended exposure to cold and is a life-threatening condition.
• In Suffolk County, people cannot tether, leash, secure, tie, pen or confine a dog outside when the temperature is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. The SPCA said it enforces this law.
• Be alert to frostbite: Skin can turn red, white or gray, and scaly. If you suspect frostbite, contact your vet immediately.
• Be aware of exposure time: Dogs who are ill, old, very young, or shorthaired cannot endure prolonged exposure to winter weather. Take them out only to relieve themselves. Many dogs need boots in winter weather, regardless of coat length. If your dog frequently lifts up his or her paws, whines or stops on his or her walks, his or her feet are uncomfortably cold and may need dog booties for his or her paws.
• Clean your pet's feet. Salt can irritate or burn, as well as cause vomiting. In some pets, this can even cause seizures.
• Antifreeze has a sweet, attractive smell to pets and can be deadly if ingested.
• Be careful with cats. Warm engines in parked cars can attract cats who may crawl under the hood. Bang on the hood before starting the car to scare them away.
• If you have bunnies who live outside, make sure they have a warm, dry hutch with plenty of bedding that is out of the wind. Water is important too, as is some extra food. Cover the hutch with a tarp.