Pet Safety in Extreme Cold

As colder temperatures are forecast throughout the week, the Wicomico County Health Department urges residents to take cold weather health risks seriously, including health risks for pets. 

Just like humans, pets and animals are susceptible to cold-related illnesses like frostbite and hypothermia. Pets with existing medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, etc. may have more difficulty regulating their body temperatures which makes them even more susceptible to cold-related illness. Use these tips to help keep your pets warm and safe.

 

 Bring your pets inside 

 If you cannot bring your pet inside, make sure they have fresh, unfrozen water and a shelter with adequate warmth 

 Do not leave your pet in a car during cold weather 

 Shorten walks in extremely cold weather to protect you and your pet 

 Check your pet’s paws for cold-weather injury (i.e. cracked paw pads and bleeding) 

 Wipe off your pet’s paws as ice melting chemicals can cause illness 

 Check underneath your car and bang on the hood to dislodge animals sleeping in engine 

 Take precautions with space heaters around pets to prevent fire and pet injury 

For more information about cold weather pet safety, visit the American Veterinary Medical Association’s website at www.avma.org . For more information on general cold weather safety, visit the Wicomico County Health Department’s at www.wicomicohealth.org , our Facebook page, or follow us on Twitter @WicomicoHealth.