Submitted by Joint Animal Services
OLYMPIA, WA — Winter’s cold air brings hazards for pets. Keep the following precautions in mind:
- Don’t leave your dog outside in the cold without available warm shelter. Time outdoors should be limited and monitored
- Adequate shelter is a necessity. Even garage floors may become extremely cold, so place blankets on floors. Make sure any outdoor bedding doesn’t absorb moisture- frozen blankets can cause hypothermia.
- Use caution when walking or playing with your dog near frozen lakes, rivers or ponds.
- Groom your dog regularly. Short- or coarse-haired dogs may need a sweater or coat. Long-haired dogs need excess hair around the toes and foot pads trimmed to ease snow removal and cleaning.
- Feed your pet additional calories in the winter if it spends a lot of time outdoors or is a working animal.
- Towel or blow-dry your dog if it gets wet from rain or snow. A little petroleum jelly on paw pads can prevent cracking.
- Don’t leave your dog alone in a car without proper precautions. Carbon monoxide can build up in idling cars, and temperatures drop quickly when the engine is off.
These tips are brought to you by the American Kennel Club and Animal Services. Contact us at 360-352-2510 or www.JointAnimalServices.org if you see a pet in need this winter.
