Preparing
for cold weather
Tips to making a cozy environment for
your pet
MetPet.com Staff Writer
 Everyone
needs a bit of help to feel comfortable when the weather turns chilly. Here
are some tips to generate or save heat:
Raise beds off the floor and build a tent to trap warm air
Warm air rises and cold air falls so raise your pet's bed a few inches off
the floor by placing bricks or stepping stones underneath it. If
you're using just a cushion, fold a blanket and place it underneath to lift
it up off the cold floor. If the room is especially cold, consider an
insulated teepee style bed for smaller dogs and cats or place the bed
underneath a desk or shelf. You can even drape a blanket overhead to
help preserve body heat.
Look at your local pet store for disks that can be microwaved and placed
inside or under the bed. They slowly release their warmth over a 12
hour period and, unlike hot water bottles, do not become ice cold.
Move out of the draft and into
the warmth
Drafts come from doors and windows so move beds, litterboxes, food bowls out
of the line of cold air. The reverse also works, beds can be moved
near heat registers especially for warmth loving cats.
Outside, place houses and shelters away from the wind with
the opening set up as close as possible to a wall while still allowing for
exit and entry. Place sufficient loose or stuffed bedding inside to
create a "nest". If there is snow, sleet or rain, the bedding will
become damp and will need to be changed daily for fresh bedding. Water
and food bowls will need to be refilled or heated if there is possibility of
a freeze.
Clothing options
Older or ailing pets, those with thin coats not bred for the cold and very
young pets may actually need clothing to keep them healthy. You can
buy, make or alter human clothing in the form of sweaters, neck mufflers,
boots, socks and coats. Wool, fleece, quilted fabrics and heavy knits
used for sweats are warmest with cotton and acrylic somewhat less
insulating. For dogs, a simple muffler around the neck works with the
temperature regulating mechanism in the neck to maintain body heat.
Extra calories
In temperate climates, pets can generally eat the same number of calories
during the winter as during the summer. They are often out less during
the winter and that may make up for the additional calories required to
maintain bodyweight.
In colder climates, however, active pets may require
50-100% more calories depending on their living conditions. For
overweight pets, the winter is a good time to slim down. They can have
the same meals as before but will use up extra calories just staying warm.
Safety in the cold
Here some basic safety tips that apply to the winter months:
- If you walk on roads treated with salt, rinse your pet's
feet when they come inside. That will prevent them from licking the
salt off and ingesting it and will also prevent drying, cracking and
irritation. Rubbing in a small amount of petroleum jelly into the
clean pads can soothe them. Consider waterproof booties if your dog is
out frequently
- Get a carbon monoxide monitor especially if your pet is
housed in your garage for any amount of time. This is a good safety
tip for the entire house. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless
gas that is the result of incomplete combustion from furnaces, car exhausts,
charcoal fires, etc. It attaches to the hemoglobin in your blood,
replacing oxygen, and can cause brain damage, cardiac arrest and can even be
fatal. A monitor can alert you to excess levels quickly so that the
source can be found.
Sources of heat such as open fires, burning candles,
camping stoves and space heaters can be dangerous around pets and should
never be used in enclosed areas unless specifically made for that purpose.
- Look out for antifreeze. Every year dogs, cats and
children are poisoned by antifreeze left on the garage floor or dripping on
driveways and streets.
If your pet is in the garage, use a wire or plastic pen or
crate to prevent him from getting into the antifreeze, fertilizer, snailbait,
pesticide, paints, solvents and cleaners that are stored in the garage.
Also consider building tall shelving or installing a closed cabinet to store
dangerous chemicals. |
