Winter officially arrived December 21st. It's time to batten down the hatches, especially in areas like Western New York where we're assailed by dramatically plummeting temperatures, harsh winds, ice storms and heavy snowfalls. You'll want to make sure, of course, that your home and family are well prepared to cope with the cold weather, the discomfort and inconvenience that come with the season, and the various health threats that tend to peak at this time of year. As a conscientious pet owner, you'll also want to take necessary measures to protect your canine and feline companion's well-being during the winter months.
Prolonged exposure to a freezing-cold environment can result in a fatal drop in body temperature and Hypothermia. At elevated risk of developing Hypothermia are puppies, kittens as well as geriatric canines and felines because they are typically less able to regulate their body temperatures. Signs of Hypothermia include: lethargy, weakness, shivering, muscle stiffness and labored breathing. In general, if you suspect your pet is suffering from Hypothermia, the pet should be rushed to a veterinary hospital for emergency care
Frosbite
is another common cold-weather problem in which an animal's tissues - most frequently those on its paws, tail and tips of its' ears - are exposed to freezing temperatures. When temperatures drop below freezing, the blood flow to the outer areas of a pet's body diminishes, a natural response that ensures an adequate flow of blood to its vital organs. However, ice crystals can form in these outer tissues if exposure to the cold is prolonged, and this may result in tissue death. The skin on an affected area will become brittle and discolored - turning white, red or gray - and may peel off. The frost-bitten animal will typically indicate that the affected area is extremely painful. If you suspect your pet may have frostbite, it is recommended you seek veterinary attention as soon as possible.
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Antifreeze Poisoning
You might consider it humane to keep your pet(s) in your garage during the cold days of winter, and this would certainly make sense if the garage is heated. However, you must make sure that the floor of the garage does not have any puddles of antifreeze on it. The active ingredient in most brands of antifreeze is ethylene glycol, a sweet-tasting liquid that can be attractive to an animal, especially one that does not have access to an abundant source of fresh water. This chemical is highly toxic. Predictably, many cases of ethylene glycol poisoning occur during the winter months, when many people top off the supply of antifreeze in their car radiators. Even a small amount can seriously harm your pet. If your garage is a pet's winter home, there are nontoxic antifreeze products available.
Injuries
Dogs are at greater risk for a wide array of injuries, both indoors and outdoors, during the winter months than they are at any other time of year. Having four legs seems to help them maintain their balance when walking but, when the snow is deep, a dog's terrain changes. For a small animal, a three-foot-high pile of snow can be a real danger. Ice covered ponds and lakes also pose a serious danger. A dog that tumbles through a hole in the ice is likely to drown if it is not immediately rescued; even if it's spared from drowning, hypothermia resulting from the accident can prove fatal if emergency care is not provided promptly.
Roaring fires in the fireplace, or wood buring stove, are cozy especially on a winter evening. But a fireplace or woodburning stove that doesn't have a screen in front of it can allow a spark to fly out and set fire to your pet's fur or burn it's skin. Cats are naturally curious creatures and have been know to jump up on a woodburning stove resulting in serious burns to the pads on its feet.
DogWatch, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Vol. 11, No. 1, Jan. 2007
Holiday Season
Family gatherings and holiday get-togethers seem incomplete without poinsettia plants, mistletoe, and various holiday ferns. Please be especially careful around this time of year with toxic plants, and tree decorations such as tinsel, all of which can be pleasing to the human eye but equally attractive to your pet(s). Don't upset your holidays with an unplanned trip to the Emergency Hospital for a situation that could have easily been avoided.
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