You don’t even have to battle the weather outside anymore to know it’s super cold! We have all seen enough pictures of dashboard temperature gauges on social media to know that it is COLD outside!
While we are busy adding layers and hoping it’s perfectly acceptable to wear furry slippers outside, it is extremely important to keep our beloved pets in mind as well while we experience these record-low temperatures! Even though they have a coat of fur that we don’t have (most of us, anyway), they still need to escape the freezing cold weather!
A list of helpful tips for pet owners during the winter include the following:
1. Keep your cats inside. Outdoors, cats can freeze.
2. During the winter season, outdoor felines sometimes hide under the hoods of cars. Sadly when the car is started, the cat can be injured or killed by the fan belt. If there are outdoor cats in your area, tap loudly on the hood before you start the engine to give cats a time to escape.
3. Don’t ever let your dog off the leash on snow or ice, especially during a snowstorm, dogs can lose their scent and easily get lost. More dogs are lost during the winter season than during any other season, so make sure your pet always wears ID tags.
4. Thoroughly clean off your dog’s legs and stomach when he comes in out of the sleet, snow or ice. They can ingest salt, antifreeze or other potentially dangerous chemicals while licking his paws.
5. Make sure your furry friend has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A comfy dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow is perfect.
6. Don’t ever leave your dog or cat alone in a car during cold weather. A vehicle can act as a refrigerator during the winter, holding in the cold and causing your animal to freeze to death.
7. Puppies do not handle the cold weather as well as adult dogs, and may be difficult to housebreak during the winter. If your puppy seems to be sensitive to the weather, you may decide to paper-train him inside. If your dog is sensitive to the cold due to age, illness or breed type, take him/her outdoors only to relieve himself.
8. Does your pet spend a lot of time engaged in activities outside? Increase his supply of food, particularly protein, to keep him, and his fur, in tip-top shape.
You take care of your pets while Paul Davis takes care of your home!
To see the communities that Paul Davis Restoration of Cleveland Metro assists with water, fire, mold and storm damage clean up and repair, click here.
