DogDiary4u

When the weather outside is frightful, don’t forget about your furry friends. While a cat or dog’s fur may look like it’s enough protect your pet from the cold, they need more than that to stay warm and healthy during the winter months.

Lisa Kump, McDonough County animal control officer in Illinois State, has seen first-hand what happens to cats and dogs when they are left outside when it’s too cold.

“People think because they have lots of fur, ‘Oh, they’re fine.’ But they’re not,” said Kump, who recently picked up two dogs that were left outside, without shelter or food and water, by their owner.

Kump said that was an extreme case and she had watching the situation closely before picking up the dogs and bringing them to the McDonough County Animal Shelter, but many people just don’t think before leaving pets outside in the winter.

“Mostly, the biggest problem is some people may put their dog outside and go to work all day,” she said.

Pets need insulted shelter if they are going to be outside in winter, said Kump.

Insulted igloo-style doghouses are best, she added, but it’s easy to insulate a simple wood doghouse by padding the inside with foam insulation board or blankets.  The floor of the shelter should be covered with dry straw or wood chips, and the shelter should the faced away from the wind.

The McDonough County Animal Shelter has free straw for pet owners, as long as supplies last. Kump said the straw was donated to the shelter.

Dog houses are not just for dogs, Kump stressed. Cats including the strays that are being fed on the back porch also need insulated shelter.

“I know people who put up dog houses for their cats,” she said. “If you’re feeding them, it should be your responsibility to shelter them in winter.”

Those who are feeding pets outside in winter should change the water at least twice a day to prevent it from freezing, or use a heated water bowl.

When it’s time to take Fido for a walk, Kump suggests dog owners think first about how the cold affects humans.

“If you can’t handle it, they probably can’t either,” she said.

Small dogs with short fur might benefit from a dog sweater or jacket. Kump said dog booties can also help protect a dog’s paws from snow and ice.

Kump said that while insulted outdoor shelter can protect a pet from the cold, it’s best to keep them inside.

“The best thing you can do for any pet during the winter is bring them in. That’s absolutely the best thing you can do.”

• When feeding pets outdoors in winter, use plastic food and water dishes rather than metal ones. A pet’s tongue can stick and freeze to cold metal.

• Dog and cat shelters should be big enough for the animal to sit and lie down comfortably, but small enough to hold in its body heat.

• Antifreeze is a deadly poison, but it has a sweet taste that is attractive to animals. Wipe up antifreeze spills that are accessible to pets and store antifreeze out of reach. Antifreeze made with propylene glycol is less toxic in small amounts that traditional ethylene glycol antifreeze.

• The salt and other chemicals used to melt snow and ice can irritate the pads of your pet’s feet and are harmful ingested. Wipe your dog or cat’s feet with a damp towel before your pet licks them. Pet-friendly ice melts are available at many pet supply stores.

• Warm engines in parked vehicles are attractive to cats and small wildlife.

To avoid injuring a cat or other small animal that may have crawled under the hood for warmth, bang on your vehicle’s hood a few times before starting the engine.