5 Dangers to protect your pet from during the winter

Winter can be a time of great happiness and fun for you and your pets. Everyone likes watching cats try to navigate through the snow trying not to get their feet wet. Dogs especially seem to love winter as they run around burying their noses in the mysterious white stuff on the ground.

Veterenarians in Baltimore want you to keep in mind the 5 following dangers that are very prevalent in winter and you should have a safe and fun time with your pets year around. Remember your veterinarian is a great source for any additional questions or concerns that you have.

ICE

We all know the immediate slip and fall dangers associated with ice. Being bipedal we probably have more trouble with ice than our four legged friends do. The biggest dangers with ice for our pets is the use of rock slat to melt the ice. Traditional rock salt and other chemical deicers can be toxic to pets if ingested. To avoid this problem look for specially formulated ice management products that have been designed to be pet friendly. One product recommended by veterinarians is Safe Paws.

PAW CARE

Not only can the compounds we use on the ice be harmful if ingested by our pets but veterinarians see many cases of injured paws as well. The course compounds like rock salt can easily injure or irritate our pets feet. The best strategy is to use a pet friendly substance but also make sure to give a little TLC to those paws when they come in from the outside. The best way to avoid the irritation that can occur is to wipe your pets paws off with warm damp paper towels. Make sure to also remove any snow that may accumulate in between the toes, which can cause plenty of pain.

HYPOTHERMIA

Probably the biggest winter danger to us and our pets are the freezing temperatures experienced in most of the country. The Baltimore area is home to the occasional stretch of very cold weather that can put our outside pets in danger. Baltimore veterinarians want us to be proactive to avoid the possibility of our pets experiencing hypothermia.

Make sure your pet has a warm sheltered place to go to during the coldest weather. Provide plenty of food, animals need more calories to battle the cold, and a source of un-frozen water. The shelter should not be made to big, so that the animals body heat escapes the enclosure, and provide some warm soft bedding. When choosing a spot for the shelter make sure it is out of the wind.

INSIDE DANGERS

Most of us alter our home enviroments to keep the house warm. If you still have ineffecient radiators in your home like so many Baltimore row houses then you definitly use alternate heating sources. Using alternate heat like space heaters or woodburning stoves can pose some specific dangers to our pets.

The dangers to are pets are from the possibility of being burnt by the stoves or heaters, even worse, knocking one over and causing a fire. To avoid your pet from being burnt or knocking over the space heater make sure to train them to stay away. Baltimore veterinarians recommend spraying your cat with a water gun any time they get to close. Dogs can easily be detered with higher tech devices like a Scat Mat that can be laid on the floor near the heater and deliver a small electrical charge to discourage them from getting too close.

ANTIFREEZE

Antifreeze tastes great. It has a sweet taste to us and our pets. Unfortunitly that sweet taste is leathal. Be sure to store antifreeze in a safe place and be aware of any that may leak out of your car. Ethylene glycol, one of the main components of antifreeze, is poisonous and can cause kidney failure very quickly. If you are concerned with your pet ingesting this substance, veterenarians recommend switching to a corn based polypropylene glycol antifreeze which is much safer.