Cold Weather Tips

As temperatures continue to plummet, Harbor Humane Society is urging pet owners to take precautions in order to keep their companion animals safe in the bitter cold. Here are some tips:

• Keep your cat indoors. Cats left outdoors can freeze, become lost or stolen, injured or killed.
• For warmth, some cats will sleep under the hood of cars. To prevent injuring or killing your cat when you start your engine, bang loudly on the hood to give the cat a chance to escape.
• More dogs are lost during the winter than the other seasons because the snow and ice make it difficult for dogs to find their scent, especially during snowstorms. This makes it even more important to keep your dog on a leash when outside and have I.D. tags on the collar.
• Thoroughly wipe off your dog’s legs and stomach when he comes in out of the sleet, snow or ice. This will not only protect him from ingesting salt, antifreeze or other chemicals while licking his paws, but it will also prevent his paw pads from bleeding from snow or encrusted ice.
• Your cat or dog should never be left alone in a car during cold weather. A car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold, and your pet could freeze to death. Also, if your dog is sensitive to the cold due to age, illness or breed type, take him outdoors only to relieve himself.
• If your dog spends a lot of time engaged in outdoor activities, it is important to increase his food supply, particularly protein, to keep his fur thick and healthy.
• Animals are attracted to antifreeze because of its sweet taste, but even very small doses can be lethal to cats and dogs. Any spills should be thoroughly cleaned up and bottles should be stored where animals cannot get at them. To prevent accidentally poisoning, more people are using animal-friendly products that contain propylene glycol rather than traditional products containing ethylene glycol. If you suspect your animal has been poisoned, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (1-888-4ANI-HELP).

For more information call us at 616.399.2119 ext. 10.