As outdoor temperatures drop, don’t forget about your furry family members!
Now is the purr-fect time to brush up on important tips for a safe and warm winter with your pets:
- Keep your pets indoors as much as possible during the winter months. Factors like wind chill and cloud cover along with your pet’s fur, body fat, activity level and overall health play a part in how well your pet can handle the cold. When exposed to fur-reezing temperatures, skin on noses, ears and paw pads is at risk for frostbite and hypothermia.
- Wipe your pet’s paws when returning from an outdoor adventure to prevent irritation. Salt and chemicals used to melt snow and ice can be harsh on their paws and toxic if ingested. Cracked or bleeding paw pads can indicate your pet may be spending too much time in the cold.
- Severe weather doesn’t only strike in the spring! Don’t fur-get your pets when creating an emergency kit for your home. Find a list of paw-some pet items to include in your kit on the CDC’s website.
With a little extra care, your pets can weather this winter with tails held high!