Tips for Keeping Your Pets Safe and Healthy in the Winter

Last updated 1 month ago

Winter can be a difficult season for pets, especially if they spend any time outdoors (as most dogs certainly do). In order to keep your pets safe during the winter, follow these tips:

Always Knock on the Hood of Your Car

Even if your cat is strictly an indoor kitty, many other cats are not and may be looking for refuge from the cold weather. The engine of your car has the dual benefits of being both out of the cold and the wind and also retaining residual heat from the last time you drove. To avoid potential tragedy, make sure to firmly knock on the hood of your car before leaving your driveway. This will warn any feline guests to vacate the premises.

Keep Your Car in Good Condition

During the winter, many cars leak antifreeze onto the driveway or into the garage—the latter of which even indoor pets may have access to. Unfortunately, antifreeze has a flavor that both dogs and cats find pleasant, but it is very deadly to both species. To prevent a potential health crisis, make sure to have your car serviced regularly, to routinely inspect your car for leaks, and to clean leaks up if you do notice one.

Check Your Pet’s Paws

You can solve a lot of winter weather problems for cats simply by keeping them indoors, but dogs need to be walked and so cannot avoid the dangers of the outdoors. One thing you can do to mitigate the risks of being outdoors is to clean your dog’s feet whenever you return from a walk; do not let him lick them. Unfortunately, many of the materials used to melt ice on sidewalks are caustic or even toxic to animals, so you should not let your pet ingest them while grooming. Wash your dog’s feet, and make sure to use pet-friendly ice removers on your own sidewalks and stoops.

If your pet does run into trouble this winter, don’t worry: Island Trees Veterinary Clinic can help. Island Trees Veterinary Clinic is an excellent animal hospital with great veterinarians. For more information about our animal hospital near Levittown and Hicksville clinic, call (888) 485-8953 today.