Pets’ furry coats help protect them from winter’s chill, but frigid
weather often requires extra care to keep your pets safe and snug, indoors and
out.
Outdoor care
Like everyone else, pets need time to adjust to dropping temperatures.
Smaller pets are especially vulnerable to cold-weather ailments, so avoid the outdoors
in extreme conditions. When winter’s chill is harsh, play indoor games together
like toss-and-catch for fun and exercise or head to an indoor pet facility.
Tender paws are vulnerable to injury from snow and ice, along with road
salt and other toxic ice-melting products. Take the time to pamper your pets’
paws with soap, water and a thorough towel-dry after being outside. Also, consider
covering your pet’s paws before stepping out, perhaps pet booties or a suitable
salve.
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When the weather allows, a brisk outdoor walk in the chilled air can be
invigorating fun for you and your pet. Walking in areas lined with trees,
shrubs or other barriers can help provide extra protection against cold drafts.
Indoor insights
When running errands with your pet, it may seem smart to keep in your furry
friend in your car during dashes in and out of venues. But vehicles don’t hold
heat in extreme cold, so it’s better, is to bring your pet inside with you for
each trip or to venture out alone.
It takes extra fuel for bodies to generate needed heat in the winter,
so be sure that your pet is well-fed on frosty days, especially when outdoor
play has your pet running around through the winter landscape.
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With all that fur covering your pet, it can be easy to forget that the
skin hidden underneath it may need extra care against winter’s dryness and
flaking. Watch your pet’s water intake, being sure that your furry friend has
plenty to drink but go for less time spent in the water by limiting baths. Keep
up with usual grooming, as brushing helps overall circulation.
The winter is a great time for pets and their owners to enjoy snowy
outdoor fun and the season’s crisp air. Keep your pet safe and happy throughout
the year’s frost months by preparing for and attending to his wintertime
needs.
Full Circle Veterinary Hospital
1609 Route 9, Wappingers Falls
845-234-4417
fullcirclevethospital.com