The Evening Sun | Cold Weather Pet Safety Tips From The ASPCA
NEW
YORK
—
Exposure
to
winter’s
dry,
cold
air
and
chilly
rain,
sleet,
and
snow
can
cause
chapped
paws
and
itchy,
flaking
skin,
but
these
aren’t
the
only
discomforts
pets
can
suffer.
Winter
walks
can
become
downright
dangerous
if
chemicals
from
ice-melting
agents
are
licked
off
of
bare
paws.
To
help
prevent
cold
weather
dangers
from
affecting
your
pet’s
health,
please
heed
the
following
advice
from
our
experts:
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.
-Information
provided
by
the
ASPCA
