#hitechpet

                                                                         Winter in many places can be bitterly cold & wet,  especially for pets and outdoor animals. Keep your best friend safe by following these guidelines:

1. Keep your pet INSIDE with you and your family.

2. Cats should not be left outside even if they roam outside during other seasons. Outdoor cats choose to sleep under car hoods in the winter where it’s warmer. When the motor is started the cat can be injured or killed by the fan belt. To prevent this, bang on the hood of your car a few seconds before starting the engine.

3. If your dog is short-haired consider getting a warm sweater with a turtleneck for your dog.

4. Dogs frequently lose their scent in snow & ice and become easily lost. More dogs are lost during the winter than any other season.

5. Puppies don’t tolerate the cold as well as adult dogs and may be difficult to house train in the winter. You may have to house train them on papers until the weather is tolerable.

6. Antifreeze (especially with ethylene glycol) is toxic to animals even in small quantities. Dogs are tempted by its sweet smell. Use an antifreeze with propylene glycol instead as it is safer than ethylene glycol (its still toxic). Keep antifreeze sealed and away from animals. Symptoms usually appear 30 minutes to 1 hour after ingestion and can last for several hours. Symptoms of antifreeze  poisoning: lethargy, loss of coordination, & disorientation.  If your pet is behaving this way, don't delay. Call a veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.

7. Always wipe off your dog legs, back, and stomach when she comes in out of the rain, snow, or ice. This helps your dog from licking any rock salt or antifreeze.

8. If your dog does ingest rock salt, call your veterinarian.

9. Pets who spend a lot of time outdoors need more food in the winter because keeping warm depletes energy. Use plastic bowls as your animal’s tongue can stick and freeze to metal.

10.Exposed skin on noses, ears and paw pads are at risk for frostbite and hypothermia during extreme cold snaps. For this reason, short-haired dogs often feel more comfortable wearing a sweater — even during short walks.

11. If your pets are outdoors for part of the day, they must be protected by a dry, draft-free shelter that is large enough to allow them to move comfortably, but small enough to hold in body heat.       

12. Make sure that your pets bed is warm and dry. 

12. Be sure that your pet door is hermetically sealed as not to let drafts in (the Power Pet Door by High Tech Pet is the only automatic pet door with this feature www.hitecpet.com/electronic-pet-door.html ).

Make your own outdoor pet shelter:

http://www.humanesociety.org/news/magazines/2010/07-08/simple_shelter_design.html?credit=web_id112494760

For more information on keeping your pets safe this winter visit:

http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/protect_pets_winter.html