Battle Ground Veterinary Clinic, P.C.

Wellness Care

Winter Pet Care

As the cold weather falls upon us, it may be time to consider bringing your pets indoors. As a rule of thumb, when the temperature drops into the low teens it may be too cold to leave animals outside all the time. This is especially true for small dogs, short-haired breeds, very young or very old pets, and those who have medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, or kidney disease.

Bringing animals inside during the holiday season creates a need for a few extra precautions to be taken around the house. Be sure to keep poisonous plants such as poinsettias, mistletoe, and holly out of reach as well as tempting toys like tinsel, ornaments, rubber bands, and electric cords. Try and resist the urge to tie ribbons around your pet’s neck, although cute, they are easily swallowed. As always, avoid feeding candy and keep sweet chocolaty treats out of pet friendly areas.

When your pet does stay outside, be sure to provide a warm, dry shelter for protection from the wind and snow. Check water bowls often, making sure they have not frozen and consider increasing the amount of high protein, high calorie food you feed. Cats have a tendency to seek out warm car engines to sleep in, so pound on the hood and double check under your car before starting the engine. Anti-freeze and chemical salt are toxic and should not be left in your pet’s play area. Consider using sand for increased traction on driveways and sidewalks.

On walks, keep the little ones warmer with a sweater if they will allow it. Avoid letting animals loose around frozen ponds, they could easily fall through the ice. Go slowly with arthritic pets, steering clear of slippery sidewalks and give extra support when they are climbing stairs or hopping into the car. Before going back inside, wipe their feet with a warm, wet, wash cloth to keep their pads healthy and to prevent them from licking off chemical salt.  

Always keep an eye out for signs of discomfort including whining, shivering, anxiousness, slowness, or weakness. Hypothermia becomes a danger when animals are left out too long or are unable to regulate body temperature due to poor health. If you believe your animal is suffering from this condition, bring him/her indoors, wrap in warm blankets, and call your veterinarian.

As always, the staff of Battle Ground Veterinary Clinic is happy to help in any way we can. Feel free to call or drop by if you have any questions. We wish you and your pet a fun, safe, merry winter season.

Happy Holidays!