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Winterizing Your Pet
When the temperature begins to fall, you’ll find that your pet needs a little extra care from you.
Pets are best kept inside
- Bring in your pets when the temperature reaches 30 degrees with the
wind-chill.
- Dogs and cats can get frost bitten ears, nose and feet if left outside.
- Chemicals used to melt snow on sidewalks can irritate pets’ paws.
- Indoor pets get less exercise in the cold months, so feed them less.
If Your Pet Must be Kept Outside
- An outdoor dog needs a dry, elevated house with clean, dry bedding and a flap over the opening to keep
drafts out.
- Or consider adding a dog door to the garage with a soft cushion in the warmest corner.
- Make sure her water bowl is not frozen. Check periodically throughout the day.
- Give your dog more food. Outdoor dogs need more calories in the winter to produce body heat, so increase
the amount you feed your pet.
For Both Indoor and Outdoor pets
- Put petroleum jelly on your pets paws before an outing to protect their paws from deicing materials.
- Wipe your pet’s feet when they come back in to prevent frostbite from snow and ice between the pads of their feet.
- Keep antifreeze, salt and other household poisons away from pets.
- Make sure a cat hasn’t crawled under your car seeking shelter and warmth near the engine. It may get caught in
the fan and seriously injured when the engine starts. Open the hood of your car or slap it noisily with your hand
before starting the engine on cold days to startle any animal sleeping there.
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Horses Need Winter Care Too!
Usually, horses can withstand a lot of cold, but they are not invincible. Making sure your horse gets the winter care she deserves can insure a healthy, happy horse all
year round.
Visit the Veterinarian
- make sure your horse gets annual vaccinations for Rhinopneumonitis, Eastern and Western Encephalomyelitis,
tetanus, and worms
- have his teeth checked so she can chew his food properly
Check Your Horse’s Shelter
- for a clean, dry, but well ventilated barn
- moist bedding can cause foot infection, so keep it dry
- for ice in the drinking trough. Make sure she has access to drinkable water at all times
- if you don’t have a barn:
your horse should at least have a three sided shelter open on the down-wind side
Compensate for Snow and Cold Weather
- Shoes should be pulled, because snow could ball up badly in shod hooves.
- Trim the hooves enough so they won’t crack or break or get sore hooves
Give him extra time to warm up muscles when exercising your horse in cold weather so he will be limber.
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