Animal experts urge pet owners to bring pets inside during cold weather

As the outside temperature drops and the wind chill increases, the heavy blankets are taken out of the closets and the heat in the house is turned up. While scrambling to make the inside living conditions a bit more tolerable, it is important to remember that pets need a warmer environment, too.

“It’s a very critical time to be more in tune with our pets, especially when it gets down to the freezing and the below-freezing mark,” said Brian Lippai, animal facilities manager at the Ocean County Health Department. “A lot of pet owners seem to neglect their pets as they get cold. We certainly encourage and would really like to urge people to bring their pets indoors during this time when it does get cold.”

Photo via Marie Claire
Cold weather makes it the perfect
time to cuddle with furry friends!

Indoor-outdoor pets should not be let outside, either. Many animals get lost in the snow and ice because they lose the scent and landmarks to find their way home, said Dorothy Reynolds, president of the Friends of Southern Ocean County Animal Shelter. Many animals also get hit by cars during snowstorms since they are not aware of the street curbs. Cats looking for shelter often crawl under car hoods. If a driver starts a car without banging on the hood to jostle the cat out, it can be severely injured or even killed, she added.

“As much as your furry little friend wants to go outside and hang around, I would not leave them out at all. I would keep them indoors until the temperature rises,” said Lippai.

If animals are not welcome inside the home, such as in the mudroom or a spare room, Lippai suggests bringing them into the garage. If that is not an option, he said owners must provide their pets with permanent outside housing. The lodging should be raised 1 to 2 feet off the ground. Lippai recommends using lots of blankets and lining the inside of the area with hay or straw to keep it insulated. Protected shelter, such as igloo-style doghouses, can be purchased at many pet stores, such as Petsmart. The housing should be free of drafts and leaks to help keep out wind and rain.

“Animals are in just as much danger as humans as far as being exposed to the elements and any kind of hypothermia,” said Lippai. “Freezing and hypothermia is very prevalent. A lot of people do it; there are a lot of cases every winter of people just not thinking. Just by being smart, they could really save their pet’s life. A dog can very quickly get hypothermic and can die.

“If your dog is in a tight area and he doesn’t have an opportunity to move and to exercise, just like a human, a dog’s body temperature, in a confined area, can drop dramatically. That’s a big concern,” he added.

Bedding should be kept elevated from the ground. Kuranda dog and cat beds are equipped with raised legs and can be used outdoors.

“Once the temperature freezes, the moisture in the dirt or grass is going to freeze. Since the ground is already frozen, basically that poor pet is going to be sleeping on a slab of ice, really,” said Lippai. “It is very important that the animals are kept warm. It’s very dangerous for the animals to be outside, especially when it comes to a combination of the cold and the wind.”

Plenty of fresh water is also essential. Pet owners need to check on the water consistently to keep it from freezing. Lippai suggests checking on the supply every half-hour to an hour.

Pets who have a shorthaired coat and are typically groomed may need a coat or sweater for extra protection and warmth. Booties are a good choice for pets with sensitive paws, especially when salt and other slip-resistant substances are on the ground.

“A lot of folks like to dress up their pets because it’s cute, but there are practical purposes for some of those items. Salt in a wound, as you know, is extremely painful,” said Lippai.

Antifreeze and ice melts are toxic to pets if ingested from the ground or licked from their paws and fur. Choose a pet-friendly alternative instead. Reynolds suggests wiping off the animal’s paws after being brought inside.

For more tips on how to keep pets safe during cold weather, visit aspca.org/pet-care/cold-weather-tips.

— Kelley Anne Essinger


This article was published in The SandPaper.