The end of the week is going to be a cold one.
Here are some tips to protect your pets.
1- Bring them inside. If they are outside animals, make sure they have adequate shelter and if possible, bring them into the house/ garage. Their fur is not adequate protection from the elements.
2- Wipe fur, paws and tails thoroughly to prevent accidental ingestion of salt, antifreeze or other hazardous chemicals when they clean themselves. This will also prevent their pads from becoming cracked and bleed from frozen pads.
3- For dogs with very thin fur, put a coat or sweater on them for longer periods of time outside like on walks. With dogs that need shaving, plan to shave in the Fall with plenty of time for it to grow back before the bitter cold hits in the Winter.
4- In the winter, a car can act like a refrigerator. Do not leave your pet alone in the car for a long period of time. They can freeze to death locked in the car too long.
5- If they spend a lot of time outdoors, increase their food intake to keep their fur in excellent shape and keep their weight up. A lot of energy is spent to keep warm so more food is necessary to keep them healthy.
6- check outside water bowls several times a day to make sure they are not frozen over.
