With the weather getting colder, it’s time to think about Fluffy and Fido.

Housing: If your pet stays indoors, keep his or her bed in a warm, draft-free area. If your pet is kept outdoors, provide a warm insulated pet house or shelter. If the wind chill or other weather conditions become severe, bring your pet inside.

Frostbite: Remove ice and snow from your pet’s paws and coat at once. Apply warm moist towels to the affected areas until they become flushed, then call you veterinarian soon as possible

Snow Removal Salt: Some substances produced to melt ice and snow have low to moderate toxicity. Read the label, keep these products out of reach, and be sure to remove salt from your pet’s paws immediately.

Antifreeze: Even a small amount of antifreeze can be fatal. Thoroughly clean up spills at once, keep containers closed tightly, and store them where pets cannot get to them.

Napping cats: Cats sometimes climb onto vehicle engines for warmth. Before starting your car, knock on the hood or honk the horn. Even if your own cat doesn’t have access to your car, a neighborhood cat might have crawled up there.

Water: Always have fresh, clean water available for your pet. If your pet is outdoors, be sure to check his water often as it may freeze.

Now go have a cup of hot chocolate, and curl up with your four-legged friend by the fire (but don’t get too close to the fire!).

Till next time, Dr. Steve

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