10 things you can do for your pet when it ’s cold outside

Follow me on Twitter @RobShmerling Venturing out in frigid conditions with our golden retriever, I was wishing I had worn another layer or two. And that got me thinking. Sparky’s got a thick coat of fur, but is that enough? Is there more I should be doing for him during cold snaps? On our last walk, I’m pretty sure he would have said yes. In fact, there are a number of things we can do to make sure our pets are safe during the worst of winter. Here are 10 things experts recommend: 1.  When returning from a walk, clean off your pet’s paws and check them for redness or cracks. 2.  Apply petroleum jelly (or other paw protection product) to your dog’s paw pads. Or, have your pet wear booties. 3.  Use only pet-friendly ice melt. 4.  Get a coat or sweater for your short-haired dog. 5.  If your pet usually sleeps on the floor or near a window or door, get them a pet bed and move it away from the coldest parts of the house. 6.  Don’t leave your pet in a car. Although we hear often about the risks of pets overheating in cars in the warmer weather, cars cool down quickly in winter and pose a risk for pets left inside. 7.  Don’t leave your pet outside. Even for dogs or cats that spend most of their time outdoors, bring them inside during cold weather. 8.  Trim their nails. Long nails can’t grip the ice, which makes walking more slippery. 9.  Look out for cats near your car. They may take refuge in the garage or huddled next to a warm car and get injured when the c...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Health Pets Source Type: blogs