Monday, November 8

Make season easier on 4-legged friends

By Jomay Steen

(Sioux Falls, S.D.) Argus Leader

As temperatures drop, think about how your pet will weather the winter.

It's not as easy as turning up the thermostat. But pet owners can take steps to make certain their cats and dogs stay healthy until spring.

Shorter-haired breeds should not be left outside in temperatures below 40, and no dog - regardless of hair length - should be left outside when the temperature is below freezing, said David Selby, director of Montgomery County Animal Control in Clarksville, Tenn.

``If you leave any of them in freezing weather, they're going to be miserable,'' he said.

With a change in the length of daylight hours, outdoor and indoor pets naturally begin to grow thicker coats and build up body fat. The animals instinctively prepare for the season when food is scarce and more difficult to hunt.

Today's pets are fed regularly, but battling the cold means they need extra energy.

``Diet changes would depend upon the age, weight and condition of your pet,'' says veterinarian Matt Stork of Sioux Falls, S.D.

``You don't necessarily have to switch the type of food you're giving your pet, but you might want to supplement their feedings with a multivitamin.''

The extra vitamins help a dog or cat cope with the stresses of cold weather. Diet changes also can aid pets' ability to shiver, pant and keep warm.

``An extra half-portion of food could be added to the regular feeding routines,'' Stork says. ``Discuss this with your local vet.''

While at the veterinarian's office, have the doctor check your animals for heart and kidney diseases as well as arthritis. As an animal ages, stiffness in the joints and bones can flare in the cold. Winter weather also can stress pre-existing conditions, so it's important that animals are on the right medication, Stork says.

Antifreeze, both leaking from cars and on the floor of the garage, adds another hazard for pets.

``It has a taste that they like, and it can draw them to those poisons,'' Stork says. Check garages, driveways and parking areas for drips and spills and thoroughly clean them. Store antifreeze away from animals in high, locking cabinets. Ingesting antifreeze is often fatal for cats and dogs.

A fresh water source should always be available. Pet owners shouldn't expect animals to get their water from licking snow or ice.

``The cold from the ice and snow will quench the thirst without the dog or cat really getting the amount of water needed,'' Stork says. As with humans, pets that eat ice and snow instead of drinking water are expending additional energy to warm the ice to body temperature.

In areas where temperatures often dip below freezing, use a heated water bowl outside. The fresh water source provides an endless supply of water as well as a source of warmth.

``If you can't afford a heated water bowl, check on the water dish as often as possible,'' says Rosey Quinn of the Sioux Falls Area Humane Society.

Another easy tip to keep animals comfortable and healthy in winter is changing bedding, Quinn says. She suggests straw rather than an old blanket or rug.

While fabric absorbs moisture, the moisture melts and freezes throughout the day creating a cold, soggy and uncomfortable resting area. But straw creates a moisture barrier between the animal and the cold, she says.

If pets can't come inside, they should be brought into a garage with a heater during the coldest times. A pillow made with Radiantex fabric, a metallic fabric that reflects body heat and wicks away moisture, also can help animals in a garage or riding in a cold car keep warm by retaining their own body heat.

Quinn helps her animals beat the winter shivers by setting up a shelter or doghouse on the southeast side of the home and using passive solar heating to warm the interior. Insulating the shelter with bales of hay, a canvas tarp or even cardboard can eliminate drafts.

The doghouse and bedding should be slightly raised off the kennel floor to prevent moisture from accumulating inside, she says.

``It's also important to keep the kennels clean,'' she says. ``Stay on top of it.''

If animals step out onto cold sidewalks, pet owners should be aware of frostbite.

Stork and Quinn recommend booties for pets who go for daily walks in bitter temperatures. Injured paw pads can lead to disability and hospitalization.

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(Contributing: Lauren Howard, The (Clarksville, Tenn.) Leaf-Chronicle)