OSU offers pet tips for Winter animal care

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

(December 9, 2009   Stillwater, OK) – The Oklahoma State University’s (OSU) Center for Veterinary Health Sciences offers these tips for caring for your pets during the cold winter weather:

•    Keep pets indoors or in a heated facility when temperatures are below freezing
•    When pets must be outside, provide water, food, and adequate shelter
•    A shelter should be insulated, protected from winter winds, large enough for the animal but small enough to allow the pet’s body heat to warm it, equipped with a floor and dry bedding
•    Outdoor shelters should face away from the north with a flap covering the opening
•    Check water frequently to avoid freezing; serve your pet warm water several times a day
•    Provide your pet with more food so added calories will produce body heat to keep the animal warm

There are also several winter hazards pet/animal owners need to be aware of to avoid accidents and/or harm to their furry friends:
•    Store all automotive products (oil, gasoline, antifreeze) away from pets
•    Antifreeze can be toxic to pets—1 teaspoon of antifreeze containing ethylene glycol can be lethal to a 7 pound cat and less than 1 tablespoon can kill a 20 pound dog
•    Buy child and pet safe antifreeze
•    Remember that roaming cats or your own pet and wildlife may climb in next to a vehicle’s engine for warmth in cold weather; before starting your engine, check under the hood and honk your vehicle horn
•    Walking is great exercise for both you and your pet in winter months; if you walk on pavement/surfaces that have been treated with chemicals to melt ice, wash your pet’s paws thoroughly
•    After walking or playing with your pet in the snow, remove ice and snow from between the animal’s toes
•    If you think your pet is suffering from frostbite, cover the pet with warm towels and call your veterinarian; do not rub the affected area