How To Keep Your Pet Safe This Winter

Jack Frost nipping at your nose? Then chances are, your pets are chilly, too. In this blog, our team at PetSmart Veterinary Services – Alpharetta shares some of our favorite cold weather safety tips for pets to help you and all your furry family members weather the winter months.

Protect Your Pet’s Paws, Coat, and Skin From Winter’s Chill

Your pet’s paws, coat, and skin needs extra TLC when temps are low and the air is dry. Practice diligent pet health with these winter grooming tips:

• Brush your pet daily to remove shed fur, prevent uncomfortable mats, and distribute the natural oils on your pet’s skin. 
• Protect paws from icy sidewalks with booties or paw balms, and remove any snow and de-icing agents from your pet’s paws with a damp towel.
• A humidifier can help protect your pet against dry, itchy skin.  
• Keep pets cozy in sweaters or by allowing their coats to grow longer in the winter. 
• Bathe pets only when necessary in the winter and use a moisturizing shampoo made just for pets.
• More frequent nail trimming may be needed if your pet is less active in the winter. 

Recognize the Signs of Frostbite

Don’t let the fur coat fool you; pets can feel the effects of cold weather, particularly when temperatures dip below freezing. Be mindful of the signs of frostbite, and protect your pets with these cold weather safety tips from our team:

• Keep pets indoors as much as possible during the coldest months, especially pets with thin or short coats, pets that are either very old or very young, and pets with chronic health problems. 
• If your pet starts shivering, whining, or starts to appear weak, bring your pet inside immediately. Seek urgent veterinary care if you suspect your pet has frostbite or hypothermia. 
• Provide outdoor shelters if you’re taking care of feral cats. Storage totes or Styrofoam coolers can be used to make simple DIY feral cat shelters. 

More Cold Weather Safety Tips for Pet Families 

Indoors and out, there are pet winter safety tips to keep top of mind this winter: 

• Antifreeze and chemical de-icers are extremely toxic. Immediately wipe up any spills, and store these products out of reach. 
• Warm engines can be very inviting to cold critters. Look under your car, honk the horn, and bang on your hood before turning the key to scare off any “stowaways.”  
• Don’t let pets walk on frozen ponds or lakes.
• Exercise caution with space heaters. Pets can knock them over and cause fires. Choose ones with automatic shut-off features. 
• Always keep a week’s worth of pet food, prescription medications, litter, and other day-to-day pet supplies on hand in case roads get slick. 

At PetSmart Veterinary Services – Alpharetta, we’re always happy to share cold weather safety tips and address your concerns about pet health. Please contact us at (770) 759-0692 if we can help.