The colder temperatures are officially setting in, especially during the night hours. Our pets do not need to be left outside for long hours during the day and we need to be sure we are taking the proper precautions for our animals, not only at night, but all throughout the day. We love our four-legged pets and their lives are at-risk if we are not intentional with their care during the winter. Here are some helpful tips to keep our animals safe and healthy during the cold months of the year.

Keep Pets Inside

As the temperatures continue to drop in the fall and winter months, we should take this into consideration for our animals. Short-haired animals do not have enough hair to keep them warm enough, so they should not be left outside all through the day, and definitely not over night. Our pets with longer hair and thicker coats are able to bear the temperatures a little more, but still be aware of the time they
are spending outside. Letting your animals out to use the bathroom, or taking them on a short walk are a couple of mindful ways to give your pets the exercise they need, but also keeping them from being out in the cold temperatures for too long. With freezing temperatures and wind chill, animals lives are at risk. By simply keeping them indoors as often as possible, we are protecting our animals.

Bundle Up, Wipe Off

In order to keep our household pets warm while being outside, we should be bundling them up when they go on a walk, when they are let outside to play, or even if they are going out to use the restroom. Another thing to be aware of when taking pets on a walk in the winter months is the rock salt, or snow melt that is in neighborhood roads and driveways.This can irritate your animals paws, so to prevent your animals from ingesting those chemicals, or their paws becoming irritated, wipe their paws off right after their walk.

Outdoor Animals

It is important to be aware of the animals that are living outdoors during the
winter months. Stray cats, neighborhood cats, or other small wildlife will typically
crawl in the hoods of cars to keep warm. It is always smart to bang on the hood of
your car to scare off any cat, or animal that could have crawled up in the engine.

Speak Out

Wintertime neglect is often a concern and should be addressed. If an animal
is being neglected, or not being properly taken care of during this cold season,
approach the owner of that animal with your concerns. If you continue to see neglect take place, call your local animal control or county sheriff’s office to communicate your concerns. Pets are deserving of proper care throughout the cold season and your role in that is so important.