From Brrrr to Purrr: Pet Safety in Winter

Temperatures are dropping and the flakes are falling. Whether you're snuggling with Tigger in front of the fireplace or romping with Buddy through the snowy woods, winter is a time for bonding and adventures with pets. With a few extra precautions, you can keep your four-legged family members safe, healthy and happy until the spring thaw.

Bring Them In

They may have fur coats, but those coverings don't keep your pets warm and cozy in the snow.

̶0;If it̵7;s too cold for you to be outside, it̵7;s too cold for your pet to be outside,̶1; said Betti Gravelle, president of the Bradley County (Tennessee) Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

While inside is best for Buddy and Tigger, inside also comes with hazards. Pets should be monitored around heating sources, says Dr. Sara Cooper, a veterinarian with VCA Catoosa Animal Hospital in Ringgold, Georgia. If you allow companion animals to play or sleep close enough to them, they will get burned. She also warns that pets may knock over space heaters or chew electrical cords, creating a risk of fire or electrocution.

Cold Exposure

If your pet is shivering, he is too cold, says Ringgold, Georgia-based veterinarian Dr. Sara Cooper. According to the American Animal Hospital Association, other symptoms of cold exposure include efforts to burrow, the appearance of anxiety and a slowdown in activity.

When frostbite occurs, all of the blood is drawn into the core of the pet̵7;s body, so the ears and tail lose circulation and ice crystals can form in tissues.

An animal suffering from hypothermia can't maintain a normal temperature. Symptoms of hypothermia include weakness and muscle stiffening.

If you suspect your pet is suffering from exposure, frostbite or hypothermia, bring him inside where it's warm, wrap him in blankets, and then take him to a veterinarian for evaluation and treatment.

Take Them Out

Exercise and sunshine are important even in the winter months, Cooper says, but coats and booties aren̵7;t just fashion statements. If a frostbite warning is in effect, it applies to pets as well as people, she notes. Frostbite first affects the paws, ears and areas of the body not covered by fur. You should also protect pets from exposure to salts and chemicals used to melt snow and ice. If Buddy isn̵7;t wearing booties on his walks, you should wipe snow and ice from his paws and dry them once he comes indoors.

Keep Them Close

Before the snowflakes start to fall, give your pets up-to-date tags with your current telephone number. Cooper discourages letting your pets roam off leash and outside a fenced yard, especially if there's snow on the ground. "The scenery changes when it is covered by snow," she said. "Many scent markers may also be lost in snowy weather. Some pets could become disoriented and have trouble finding their way home. It̵7;s best to try to keep pets -- especially older pets -- close to home when wintery weather is forecast."

Protect Seniors

Senior pets need special care during winter. Older companion animals are more at risk of hypothermia and frostbite, Cooper explains, and should be monitored closely. They may also start to show signs of arthritis when temperatures drop.

If Tigger starts to have problems getting up and down or seems stiff, Cooper advises that you seek a veterinarian's recommendations for supplements and medications that can help. Older pets should have lots of soft, warm places to rest.

Meet Needs Outdoors

Outdoor cats often climb into vehicle engines for warmth. Bang on the hood before you turn the key. (photo: Thinkstock Images/Stockbyte/Getty Images)

Gravelle acknowledges that some animals just can̵7;t be brought in when temperatures fall.

"We see more and more guardians who are caring for feral cats and backyard chickens," she said.

Shelter, water and food are critical considerations for animals that you cannot bring inside. Cooper suggests heated or insulated houses -- raised off the ground -- and heated bowls to ensure water doesn̵7;t freeze. While pets that are taken outside for exercise don̵7;t need extra calories during cold weather, Cooper said, animals that live outdoors do need them.

"The metabolism speeds up to maintain body temperature,̶1; she said.

Service Your Vehicle

Oddly enough, one of the most important winter safety precautions for pets is making sure your vehicle is serviced. According to Cooper, the most common and deadly winter illness is antifreeze poisoning. Even if you don̵7;t see a puddle under your car, Gravelle said, a leak could pose a serious danger to pets -- especially cats.

̶0;Cats will seek out the warmth of engines,̶1; she said, ̶0;and may lick antifreeze that is leaking onto the engine but never dripping to the ground.̶1;

Antifreeze products should be sealed and stored out of pets' reach.