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Tips for protecting pets during winter weather

By Karlee Van De Venter, Tri-City Herald
Published: December 27, 2024, 5:41am

KENNEWICK — The weather is changing in Tri-Cities, getting colder as winter draws closer. Temperatures mostly in the 30s and 40s are expected over the next week, with some chances for precipitation.

The Office of the Washington State Climatologist and NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center note that there is a chance for above-average precipitation levels in Eastern Washington this winter.

In an area with many outdoor pets, this time of year begs the question — how cold is too cold for pets?

Temperatures too cold for pets

The answer about what is too cold will vary by pet. Their coat, age, fat content, activity level and overall health will all impact how long a dog or cat can spend outside in the cold, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

The AVMA recommends shortening walks and outside time once winter hits. If you’re not sure how much you should limit your pet’s time, ask your veterinarian for their recommendation.

In fact, winter is a good time for vet check-ups if your furry friend hasn’t been seen recently.

If you don’t have an emergency kit for pet emergencies, consider adding one to your household. This should include food, water and medicine for at least five days, according to the association.

While your pet is outside, you should alter your practices to keep your pet safer.

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Outdoor pet practices for winter

Depending on their coat, your dog or cat may benefit from a jacket or sweater collection. If you dress them in winter clothes, make sure you change it out every time they get wet. Keeping your pet in wet clothing will only make them colder.

If there’s ice on the ground in your area, be aware of deicer, which has sodium chloride as a main ingredient. While rampant once it gets cold, even small amounts of deicer, which can make your pet sick, or even kill them. Avoid areas with deicer as much as possible, so they don’t clean it off their fur later.

After outside time with your dog or cat, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recommends immediately toweling them off. Keep your home humidified if possible.

To keep their skin from drying out or becoming irritated, bathe your pets less in the cold months.

You should also pay special attention to their paws, at least wiping them with a damp towel after outside time. Check between their paw pads for snow and ice accumulation and deicer. Prevent cracking and bleeding with petroleum jelly or special balms if they’re outside a lot.

Depending on your pet, you might consider increasing their food consumption over the winter months.

Monitor pets in the cold

Be sure to monitor your dog or cat’s outdoor time over the winter, to make sure they stay safe and warm enough. Keep your pets from ingesting deicer, slipping on ice, getting lost or freezing.

You should know the signs of hypothermia in your pet and be on the lookout whenever outside.

“If your pet is whining, shivering, seems anxious, slows down or stops moving, seems weak, or starts looking for warm places to burrow, get them back inside quickly because they are showing signs of hypothermia,” states the American Veterinary Medical Association.

If you suspect your pet has hypothermia or frostbite, contact the vet immediately.

Additionally, it’s important to monitor your pets outside after it snows to ensure they don’t get lost. Snow can mask the smells and other markers our animals normally use to find their way home.

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