You & Your Pet
by Dr. Wise |
Rhode Island Veterinary Medical Association
11 South Angell Street #347 · Providence, RI 02906
(401) 751-0944(401) 780-0940 · Fax · rivma@rivma.org
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Dr. Wise offers two articles regarding cold weather preparations.
Dear Readers: Cold weather is on the way, so it is time to "winterize" your pet's environment. You need to provide them with a warm retreat, ice-free water and an appropriate diet, and to protect them from highly toxic antifreeze.
Generally pets adapt their "thermostats" to their environment. But in winter it is impossible to keep pets at a steady temperature since they go back and forth between a warm house and frigid outdoors. If they are outdoors all the time, they grow thick coats that protect them for long periods in the cold, but make them too warm when they are indoors. House animals do not grow protective coats and cannot stay outdoors in the cold for very long. Outdoor dogs should have a well insulated dog house. The house should be small enough so body heat from the dog will keep it warm. Cover the opening with a flap of carpeting or heavy cloth.
Outdoor cats also need a protected retreat from the elements. It may be a garage or a box lined with blankets and placed on a protected porch or in a garage or outbuilding. Better yet, keep your cats indoors.
Make sure outdoor pets have access to ice-free water. They also will eat as much as 50% more food at the onset of cold weather. This probably gives them extra weight to help protect them from the cold. When the temperature dips to zero, outdoor pets should be moved to a closed garage or unheated basement. They need added shelter but would find the family living quarters too hot due to their heavy winter coats. Dogs and cats who live indoors need some exercise - whether it is play indoors or short walks outdoors. Watch their feet, ears and tails since such unprotected areas can quickly develop frostbite. Also, do not allow their feet to stay wet. Pets may stray when weather is severe so make sure they have adequate identification.
Finally, pets are attracted to the sweet taste of antifreeze which can cause fatal kidney damage. As little as one teaspoon can kill an eight-pound cat, and only one-and-a-half ounces can kill a 10-pound dog. So be careful to clean up any antifreeze spills and do not leave old antifreeze containers in the trash unless lids are securely tightened. Keeping cats and dogs indoors or confined to your own property minimizes the problems of poisoning, as well as encounters with other animals and cars.
I worry about both my dog and cat in this cold weather. What can I do to make sure they are safe this winter?
There are many things you can do to take care of your special friends. If your dog or cat sleeps outdoors, they should have a snug, dry, draft-free place to sleep. The floor of the shelter should be raised off the ground to keep cold and moisture away from your pet. Ideally, the shelter should be heated, insulated, and have a door to keep the elements out. During extreme weather, pets should stay inside. If your pet is shivering and refuses to play, the animal is too cold and should come inside.
A high quality diet with adequate protein and extra fat is also required for animals that spend significant time outdoors. Remember, too, that water freezes outdoors. Provide fresh, warm water in a large, deep, plastic bowl throughout the day.
When walking smaller and older dogs, protect them with sweaters, and do not stay outside longer than necessary. If snow and ice clumps form on your dog’s paws, be sure to wipe between each toe with a warm, wet cloth. Deicing salt can cause paws to dry and crack; soak or wash your dog’s paws in warm water and dry them thoroughly after walks in areas where salt has been used.
Car motors are of particular danger to cats that sleep outside. Cats seek the warmth of car motors, and they can be severely injured or killed when caught in the fan belt of a car’s engine. Make it a habit to check under the hood for animals and honk your horn before starting your car.
Antifreeze is toxic to your pet’s kidneys and can have deadly consequences. The ethylene glycol in antifreeze is sweet tasting and appeals to cats and dogs. As little as one-half teaspoon can be toxic to a cat, and just a quarter cup can kill a medium-size dog. Cats are lick enough off their paws to cause a fatal reaction.
Do not leave antifreeze unattended or allow it to spill onto the garage floor or into the street. Consider using non-toxic antifreeze with a bittering agent to discourage pet consumption. If you see your pet drinking any amount of antifreeze, take it to your veterinarian immediately. The sooner treatment is started, the better for your pet.
This information, prepared as a public service by the Rhode Island Veterinary Medical Association, answers problems Rhode Island veterinarians currently are seeing in their practices, as well as new developments in animal care.
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