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Winter Tips For Safe Pets

Galesburg, Illinois--Winter will be here soon, and the

Prairieland Animal Welfare Center, American Society for the

Prevention of Cruelty to to Animals (ASPCA), and Iowa-Illinois

Safety Council want to remind pet owners of important steps they

should take to keep their pets safe and secure this winter.

*Keep cats inside. Outdoor cats can freeze, become lost or

stolen, injured, or killed

*During the winter outdoor cats sometimes choose to sleep

under the hoods of cars where it is warmer. Check the hood of

your car before you start it or bang loudly to give a hiding cat

a chance to escape.

*Don't allow your dog off the leash on ice or snow,

especially during a storm. Dogs can loose their scent in the snow

and can more easily become lost.

*Be sure all pets have an ID tag listing your telephone number

or contact information. More pets become lost in the winter than

other seasons, so this is especially important.

*If your pet is outside to be walked, wipe off their legs and

stomach when they come in out of the sleet, snow, or ice. Salt,

anti-freeze, or other chemicals will hurt them if they lick it

off of their coat or paws.

*Antifreeze, even in small doses, is a lethal poison for pets.

Thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle to help prevent

accidental poisoning. Call the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control

Center at 1-888-4ANI-HELP of you suspect your animal has ingested

antifreeze or another poison.

*Don't leave your pet alone in a car during cold weather.

A car will act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the

cold, and the animal could freeze to death.

*If your dog is sensitive to the cold due to age, illness, or

breed, take them outdoors only long enough to relieve themselves.

Short-haired dog breeds may need a sweater with a high collar to

help to protect them from the cold. Look for one that will cover

them from the base of the tail to the their belly underneath.

While a pet sweater may seem like a luxury, but it may be a

necessity to keep your animal warm.

*Young dogs do not tolerate the cold as well as adult dogs and

may be difficult to housebreak during the winter.

*If your dog spends a lot of time engaged in outdoor

activities, increase their supply of food, particularly protein,

to keep their fur thick and healthy.

*Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to sleep and

is far away from drafts and off the floor. Consider a dog or cat

bed or basket with a warm blanket.

Animals are as susceptible to cold weather as humans are. Keep

your animals safe, sound, and healthy by following some of these

safety tips!