You don’t even have to battle the weather outside anymore to know it’s wicked cold! We have all seen enough pictures of dashboard temperature gauges on Facebook to know that it is COLD outside!
While we’re busy piling on the layers and hoping it’s perfectly acceptable to wear furry house slippers out of the house, it is extremely important to keep our furry friends in mind as well while we experience these record-setting temperatures! Although they have a layer of fur that we don’t have (most of us, anyway), they still need to escape the freezing cold weather!
A list of helpful tips for pet owners include:
1. Allow your cats to join you inside. Outside, they can freeze.
2. During the winter, outdoor cats often hide under the hoods of cars. Unfortunately when the car is started, the cat can be injured or killed by the fan belt. If there are outdoor cats in your area, bang loudly on the hood before you start the engine to give cats a opportunity to escape.
3. Do not let your dog off the leash on ice or snow, especially during a snowstorm, dogs can lose their scent and easily become lost. More dogs are lost during the winter than during any other season, so make sure yours always wears ID tags.
4. Thoroughly wipe off your dog’s legs and stomach when he comes in out of the sleet, snow or ice. They can ingest salt, antifreeze or other potentially dangerous chemicals while licking his paws.
5. Be sure that your pet has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A cozy dog or cat bed with a warm pillow or blanket is perfect.
6. Don’t leave your dog or cat alone in a car during cold weather. A vehicle can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold and can cause the pet to freeze to death.
7. Young puppies don’t tolerate the cold weather as well as adult dogs, and may be difficult to housebreak during the winter. If your puppy appears to be sensitive to the weather, you may want to paper-train him inside. If your dog is sensitive to the cold due to breed type, age or illness, take him/her outside only to relieve himself.
8. Does your canine spend a lot of time engaged in outside activities? Increase his supply of food, particularly protein, to keep him, and his fur, in tip-top shape.
You take care of your pets while Paul Davis takes care of your home!
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