PET SAFETY: WINTER TIPS TO KEEP TOTO WARM! WESTCHESTER COUNTY NY 10708

PET SAFETY IN ARCTIC WINTER 2014 ~ Westchester County, NY 10708!

Wow is it cold outside...from Maine to Mississippi!  If we wanted to live in sub-Arctic Siberia, we'd fly to Russia, right?  Our family owned business is knee deep in frozen pipe water damage work for flood victims...from homes to offices and even a Synogogue in White Plains, NY.

 So we have a new "puppy" in the family., Atlas, shown above (Grrr...could not get pic where I want it on blog, sorry, so there's a dupe!).  We found this Lab mix on Youtube at a local shelter.  Since the arctic freeze this month, I looked up pet safety because of our recent Westchester County rescue.  Atlas loves the snow and all about it as you can see in his picture, in our yard.

But, our part of NY state is not used to all this ice and temps well below freezing for days and weeks. We're in the Mid-Atlantic for God's sake.  So, here are some guidlines from the ASPCA and others to keep our critters warm and wonderful until the Spring.

Let's hope that legndary Punxsutawney Phil comes out of Winter hibernation and does NOT see his shadow...so we have an early end to winter!  

If he sees his shadow, Phil regards it as an omen of six more weeks of bad weather and returns to his hole. But, if it's a cloudy day, or shadowless, Phil takes it as a sign of early Spring and stays outside.   

Here are those tips for a happy, warm pet this Winter:

1. Don't let your dog off their leash on snow or ice, especially during a snowstorm because dogs can lose their scent and easily become lost. More dogs are lost during the winter than during other seasons.  Make sure that your pets always wear ID tags, too.
    
2. Wipe off your dog's paws, legs and stomach when they come in after a walk in sleet, snow or ice.  Dogs can ingest salt, antifreeze or other potentially dangerous toxins when they "clean up" after a walk, lick their paws and wherever they can reach.  Also, puppy paw pads may also bleed from snow or encrusted ice and salt that is drying, so wipe it all off. 
    
3. Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter because their longer coats offer more warmth. When you bathe your dog in the colder months, be sure to completely dry them before going out for a walk -- they can catch colds too, like us with wet hair on cold days. Own a short-haired breed? Consider getting  a coat or sweater with a high collar -- that offers coverage from the base of the tail to their belly. For many dogs, this is regulation winter wear. 
    
4. Never leave your dog or cat alone in a car during cold weather. A car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death, even if it's 32 or slightly above in the winter.  
    
5. Puppies do not tolerate the cold as well as adult dogs and may be difficult to housebreak them, during the winter. If your puppy appears to be sensitive to the cold and outside temps, you may want to paper-train them inside. If your dog is sensitive to the cold due to age, illness or breed type, take them outdoors only to relieve themselves and let them right back in. 
    
6. Does your dog spend a lot of time engaged in outdoor activities?  Increase his supply of food, particularly protein, to keep him and his fur, in tip-top shape. Animals burn more calories keeping warm just like we do in the Winter. 
    
7. Antifreeze is a lethal poison for both dogs and cats. Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle near your home or in a garage where the animals have access.  Also, consider using products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol. Visit the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center for more information.
    
8. Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to sleep, one that's off the floor and away from all drafts.A cozy dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow, or just their favorite "toy" is perfect.

ARCTIC WINTER 2014 Safe pets in Westchester County, NY 10708!