Cold Weather Pet Care
A Hypothermia Alert is issued for Montgomery County, Maryland when the actual or forecasted temperature, including wind chill, falls below 20 degrees creating a hazardous situation in which hypothermia and frostbite are likely.
Montgomery County authorities will be on the lookout for pets tied up and left unattended outside. Dog owners face a $500 fine for violating the anti-animal cruelty ordinance.
Tips from veterinarians for cold weather care of a dog include:
- Provide a heated bed and shelter for dogs which cannot come indoors
- Avoid letting your dog eat snow – keep fresh room temperature water available at all times
- Keep food and water in a place where it will not freeze – preferably inside
- A dog's ears and tail are susceptible to frostbite; check them after a dog has been outside for a long period of time
- Like coolant, antifreeze is a lethal poison for dogs and cats. Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle, and consider using products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol
- A dog licking the salt off the bottom of his paws can make him sick, so wipe his paws after he walks through a salted area
- Never leave your dog or cat alone in a car during cold weather because a car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death.
If you see an animal left outside that appears to be in danger, call the Animal Services Division immediately at 301-279-8000.
Dahlia, AC Abbie, National Capital Dahlia Society Show, Brookside Gardens,
Wheaton, Maryland USA IMG 2997
Canon PowerShot G11 Camera
Photograph by Roy Kelley
Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs
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