Pets are often considered “members of the family”. And with the extremely cold weather that’s upon us, the Community Spay & Neuter Initiatives Program or CSNIP, is offering tips to help keep your extended family, your dogs and cats, safe during these frigid temps.
“A good general rule is that if it’s too cold for you, then it’s too cold for your pet.”
Maggie Latta is the CSNIP Operations Manager.
“Our recommendation is to keep pets indoors as much as possible. They can be susceptible to things like frostbite and hypothermia just like humans are even though they have that thick fur. Short walks are okay. But we should be avoiding prolonged exposure to cold temperatures.”
In addition to keep pets warm or indoors for longer periods, she says when you do venture outside it’s important to watch out for their paws where de-icing chemicals may be used…
“So, if you’re walking your dog outside, they can be sensitive to those chemicals. Remove the ice, snow and salt.”
A couple additional tips include making sure your pet avoids antifreeze poisoning. Latta says it can be deadly to pets, even in small quantities due to its sweet taste. Be sure to clean any spills immediately and keep antifreeze containers closed and out of reach.
