Pets need extra care during the cold

Turns out, animals can get frostbite, too.

I have two dogs, and they’re like me in a lot of ways. They can be impatient, loving, curious, sleepy – a full range of emotions. But sometimes it’s easy to forget that they, like us, are susceptible to the changing weather.

Oklahoma weather is just ridiculous. Just this month is was 70 degrees one day and snowing the next.

But unlike us, pets can’t add extra sweaters or gloves – unless you put them on.

The ASPCA gives these 10 tips for keeping your pet safe through the cold winter months:

• - Keep your cat inside.
• - Bang loudly on your car hood in case cats curl up in your engine for warmth.
• - Don’t let dogs off leash during snow or ice. They can lose their scent and become lost.
• - Wipe sleet, snow or ice off your pet when he comes inside. The precipitation could have antifreeze or salt he could ingest.
• - Don’t shave your pet down to the skin.
• - Don’t leave an animal in a car alone. Your vehicle acts like a refrigerator, holding in the cold.
• - Consider paper-training puppies during the winter because they are much more sensitive to cold.
• - Clean up any antifreeze spills in your driveway. It’s deadly to animals.
• - Make sure your pet has somewhere warm to sleep.

Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll

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