- Repeatedly coming out of the cold into the dry heat of your home can cause itchy, flaking skin. Keep your home humidified and towel dry your pet as soon as he comes inside, paying special attention to his feet and in-between the toes. Remove any snow balls from between his foot pads.
- Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter, as a longer coat will provide more warmth. If your dog is long-haired, simply trim him to minimize the clinging ice balls, salt crystals and de-icing chemicals that can dry his skin, and don’t neglect the hair between his toes. If your dog is short-haired, consider getting him a coat or sweater with a high collar or turtleneck with coverage from the base of the tail to the belly. For many dogs, this is regulation winter wear.
- Bring a towel on long walks to clean off stinging, irritated paws. After each walk, wash and dry your pet’s feet and stomach to remove ice, salt and chemicals—and check for cracks in paw pads or redness between the toes.
- Bathe your pets as little as possible during cold spells. Washing too often can remove essential oils and increase the chance of developing dry, flaky skin. If your pooch must be bathed, ask your vet to recommend a moisturizing shampoo and/or rinse.
- Massaging petroleum jelly or other paw protectants into paw pads before going outside can help protect from salt and chemical agents. Booties provide even more coverage and can also prevent sand and salt from getting lodged between bare toes and causing irritation. Use pet-friendly ice melts whenever possible.
- Like coolant, antifreeze is a lethal poison for dogs and cats. Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle, and consider using products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol.
- Pets burn extra energy by trying to stay warm in wintertime. Feeding your pet a little bit more during the cold weather months can provide much-needed calories, and making sure she has plenty of water to drink will help keep her well-hydrated and her skin less dry.
- Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A cozy dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow is perfect.
- Remember, if it’s too cold for you, it’s probably too cold for your pet, so keep your animals inside. If left outdoors, pets can freeze, become disoriented, lost, stolen, injured or killed. In addition, don’t leave pets alone in a car during cold weather, as cars can act as refrigerators that hold in the cold and cause animals to freeze to death
For Community Cats:
- Provide outdoor shelters for community cats
Whether you want to build or buy (building cat shelters is a great family or community activity!), we have shelter ideas, blueprints, and suggestions to get you started.
- Insulate outdoor cat shelters with STRAW, not HAY
Straw repels moisture while hay does not, and cats can burrow into the straw to stay dry and warm. Be sure to keep adding straw throughout the season.
- Use the right bowl
A heated bowl will prevent cats’ water and wet food from freezing. You can also utilize ceramic or plastic bowls that are deep rather than wide and place them in a sunny spot.
- Build a feeding station
A feeding station that keeps bowls insulated and off the ground will also go a long way. We have some feeding station options you can consider.
- Provide fresh food and water
Continue to change out food and water rather than letting leftovers freeze. Another tip: Increase your typical meal portions for cats during the winter. The extra food will help give cats the energy they need to stay warm. Canned or wet food takes the least amount of energy to digest, meaning more energy can be spent staying warm.
- Prepare cats’ outdoor homes for snowstorms
In the event a major weather event like snow accumulation is in the forecast, give cats extra food and water in case you can’t get to the cats for a couple days. Clear snow from the entrances of cats’ shelters after storms so they don’t get snowed in.
- Don’t use salt or chemical melting products or antifreeze
These products can be lethal when licked off paws or ingested from melting puddles. Antifreeze in particular can be attractive to cats and is extremely toxic.
- Always check under the hood of your car for cats
Sometimes, cats will nap under cars or even crawl into them to curl up near a warm engine. Before you turn on your car, look under your it to make sure the coast is clear, and then pop the hood to make sure a cat isn’t resting there.
To learn more about the ASPCA visit ASPCA.ORG.
For more Community Cat Tips Vist Alleycat.org