As temperatures fall below freezing during the night and early morning hours this winter, the Humane Society of Missouri is urging people to remember how dangerous this weather can be for their four-legged friends.
“One of the things we try to do is just make an easy to remember tagline or motto: ‘35 and Below Protect Fido,’” said Dr. Travis Arndt, Director of the Humane Society of Missouri's Animal Medical Center of Mid-America. “So what that’s trying to say is that just as the temperature drops below 35 (degrees) that’s when you have to really start watching your pets and start observing them for signs that the cold is affecting them.”
It’s particularly important to make sure young puppies and older dogs are brought inside since they have more difficulty regulating their body heat and are at high risk for frostbite and hypothermia. Frostbite warnings also apply to pets as well who often experience it on their ears and paws. If a pet seems cold when outside, Arndt recommended using a jacket or sweater but to make sure it stays dry. Pets’ paws should also be checked frequently for any redness, cracking or irritation as well as keeping them away from chemicals used in the winter.
Arndt said many pet owners often think their long-haired, larger pets or dogs like huskies or malamutes are able to withstand cold weather, which Arndt said isn’t necessarily true in Missouri due to the sharp changes in temperatures.
“The real tricky thing I think with Missouri is that we tend to have a lot of temperature swings,” he explained. “So we can have one week where we’re above freezing and it’s great it’s like springtime and then the next week it’s like living in Antarctica. So the hard thing with pets is that they generally become climatized to change where it happens very and very gradually. The Missouri weather doesn't always help facilitate them becoming climatized.
“People oftentimes develop a false sense of security thinking that their long-haired dog is going to be OK in the sudden cold snap and they’re likely to be just as susceptible to having problems as a short-haired dog because their body hasn’t had time to start adapting to it,” he added.
If a dog has to be left outside for an extended period of time Arndt stressed making sure they have access to insulated, draft-free, appropriately-sized shelter to keep them out of the wind. Hay or straw is a better alternative for insulation to blankets and cloth materials since those materials can become wet. Having access to water that will not freeze over and plenty of food is also important.
When letting your pet outside for a while, Arndt said it is important to pay attention to the temperature, how the temperature feels for you and how the pet is acting.
“The big thing is look at your dog and see how they’re responding to the temperatures and how they’re responding to the environment outside,” he said. “If they look uncomfortable, they’re probably uncomfortable.”
While some pets may enjoy the cold weather or snow, Arndt said it is still important to protect them and monitor their time so the pet doesn’t overdo it.
“Dogs probably have the cognitive ability of a toddler so they’re smart and they will want to do what they want to do,” he said. “They don’t always have the ability to understand consequences. That’s where we as their owners have to step in and we have to protect them from themselves. Making sure that the activity that they’re doing is appropriate. Making sure that the exposure that they have outside to the environment is appropriate and not putting them in danger.”
Winter is also a perfect time to schedule a wellness check for a pet, especially since cold weather can make some things act up.
“You tend to see arthritis bothering animals a lot more,” Arndt said. “So upwards of 50% of dogs over 8 years of age have some degree of arthritis. Those changes in temperatures, changes in weather really tend to exacerbate that. So it’s always a good idea if you haven’t been to the veterinarian in over 12 months to schedule an exam for your pet and just make sure you get them checked out.”
If people see an animal in distress and they’re concerned, The Humane Society of Missouri recommends they call their local police department or call The Humane Society of Missouri’s Animal Cruelty Hotline at 314-647-4400. More tips on cold weather tips can be found at www.hsmo.org.
