Winter Weather Pet Safety Tips

spcaLA reminds pet owners to prepare for their pets in case of disasters, and offers the following tips to keep pets safe this winter season.

• Have your pet microchipped with up-to-date registration and keep current identification tags on your pets at all times.
• Wipe off your dog’s legs and stomach when they comes in out of the rain. Antifreeze or other chemicals can harm your pet if they ingest them while licking their paws.
• Never let your dog off leash, especially during a storm. They may panic and run away. More dogs get lost during the winter months than during any other season. They can also lose their scent in cold weather.
• Pets should have a warm place to sleep, away from all drafts, on a nice pet bed, cushion, or a palette of blankets.
• Keep your pets indoors. They are safer inside.
• Help your pet cope with cool and wet weather with a sweater or coat made for their size.
• Keep an eye on older or ill pets as they are more sensitive to colder weather.
• Brush your dog regularly to promote a healthier coat and circulation. Heaters make the air inside dry during the colder months, which depletes moisture from your dog’s skin and fur.
• Add blankets to your pet’s emergency preparedness pet kit.
• Never leave your dog or cat alone in a car during cold weather. Just as in the summer, when temperatures rise inside cars, in the winter, temperatures drop.
• Never leave a portable heater unattended with pets around, they can knock it over and start a fire.

Please note, articles in the Animal Resource Library are for reference only, and are not meant to diagnose or treat any medical or behavioral issues your pet may be experiencing.