Pets need special attention when mercury plummets
By Cindy Wolff When the weather outside turns cold, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals reminds you to think about your pet's safety and recommends the following guidelines to protect your companion animal:
Keep your cats inside. Outdoor cats can freeze, become lost or stolen, injured or killed.
During the winter, outdoor cats sometimes choose to sleep under the hoods of cars, where it is warmer. Before starting your car, you should bang loudly on the hood and wait a few seconds to give the cat a chance to escape.
Never let your dog off its leash on snow or ice, especially during a snowstorm. Dogs frequently lose their scent in snow and ice and can easily become lost. More dogs are lost in the winter than in any other season, so make sure they always wear ID tags.
Products that melt ice may contain chemicals that can be irritating to skin and gastrointestinal tract, and could also result in more severe effects, including depression, weakness, disorientation, low blood pressure, cardiac problems, seizures, coma and death, depending on the type of ice melt and circumstances of exposure. Keep these products out of reach of your pet, and thoroughly wipe off your dog's legs, paws and stomach when it comes in out of the sleet, snow or ice to minimize the potential for skin irritation and to avoid ingestion of the chemicals.
Antifreeze, even in very tiny doses, is a lethal poison for dogs and cats. Unfortunately, because of its sweet taste, animals are attracted to it. Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle. To prevent accidental poisoning, more and more people are using animal-friendly products that contain propylene glycol rather than traditional products that contain ethylene glycol. Call your veterinarian or The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-4ANI- HELP) if you suspect your animal has been poisoned.
If you have a shorthaired breed, consider getting a warm coat or sweater with a high collar or turtleneck for your dog. Look for one that covers the dog from the base of its tail on top to its belly underneath. While this may seem like a luxury, it is a necessity for many.
Never leave your dog or cat alone in a car in cold weather. A car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold. Your companion animal could freeze to death.
If your dog is sensitive to the cold because of age, illness or breed , take the animal outdoors only long enough for it to relieve itself .
Puppies do not tolerate cold as well as adult dogs and may be difficult to housebreak during the winter.
If your dog spends a lot of time engaged in outdoor activities, increase its supply of food, particularly protein, to keep fur thick and healthy.
Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to sleep, far away from drafts and off the floor. Consider a dog or cat bed or a basket with a warm blanket or pillow in it.
Cindy Wolff, the owner of three spoiled dogs, can be reached by E- mailing wolff@commercialappeal.com, or by sending mail to The Commercial Appeal, 495 Union, Memphis, Tenn. 38103 or by calling (901) 529-5220.
(C) 2005 The Commercial Appeal Memphis, TN. via ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved
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