Making Your Holiday and Winter Season Safe For Your Pet

December 20, 2004

The holidays and winter pose special risks to pets.Give your pet a safer, healthier, cold weather seasonby following these tips:*Keep indoor pets in a dry, warm area, free of drafts.Elevate your pet's bed off the floor.

*Provide outdoor dogs or cats with a dry, insulatedpet house or shelter out of the wind. Make sure yourdogs house is no larger than 3 times his size and is approximately 4 inches off the ground to provide insulation. Staying warm demands extra calories, so feed your pet accordingly when temperatures drop. Bring your pet inside if the wind chill or other weather conditions become severe.

*Remove ice, salt and caked mud from your pet's pawsand coat at once. Contact your veterinarianimmediately if you suspect your pet has frostbite.Frostbitten skin may turn reddish, white or gray, andit may be scaly or sloughing.

*Cats and kittens often nap on car engines. Knock onthe hood or honk the horn; then wait a few minutesbefore starting the car.

*Pets like the smell and taste of antifreeze, but evena small amount can kill them. Thoroughly clean upspills at once. Tightly close containers and storethem where pets cannot get to them. Or switch to thepet-safe and environmentally safe antifreeze, Sierra.

*Never let your dog off the leash during a snow stormas it cannot easily retrace its scent over snow or iceand may become lost.

*Holiday paraphernalia can hurt pets. Cover or tackdown electrical cords. Keep tinsel and glass ornamentsout of reach. Read warnings on items like spray-onsnow. Never put ribbon around a pet's neck or allow itto play with plastic or foil wrappings or six-packbeverage holders. Keep burning candles out of yourpets reach. And just in case kitty tries someTarzan-like antics, fasten your holiday tree securelyto a window ledge or other secure area.

*Keep your pet on its regular diet. Holiday treats,such as chocolate and bones can be toxic and harmful.

*Many plants - including Christmas rose, holly,mistletoe, philodendron and dieffenbachia are toxic topets. Keep them out of your pet's reach.

*Always have fresh, clean water available.

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Diana Gonzalez

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