You may be dreaming of a White Christmas, but with the beautiful snow comes the freezing cold weather. Due to the dropping temperatures this time of year, your pet needs extra protection from cold weather hazards, such as frostbite and antifreeze toxicity. Follow these 11 easy tips from The Meowing Vet to keep your dogs and cats (and stray animals) healthy and safe during this frigid season. ❄️

 

1. Baby, it’s Effin’ cold outside! ⛄

Although your dog and cat have fur coats of their own, chances are that if you’re cold outside, then they’re cold as well. Pets should either be housed indoors in cold or wet weather or else be given access to a clean, dry, warm shelter when temperatures start to dip below about 50°F (10°C). In freezing weather pets (and humans) are susceptible to hypothermia (dangerously low body temperature, which can lead to death) and frostbite. Frostbite occurs when blood is shunted away from the extremities (limbs, nose, ears, etc.) to the body’s central vital organs (such as the brain and heart); this causes the extremities to freeze more easily and makes the tissue and skin in these regions susceptible to injury. Animals have lost ear tips and toes to frostbite, so be sure that your pet stays warm and dry. Smaller animals also lose body heat more rapidly than larger animals, so keep your little Chihuahua snuggled close to you, and be sure to provide warm bedding to all pets indoors.

If your pet does venture outside, be sure to dry him or her off with a towel as soon as he or she returns inside. Furthermore, do not shave your pet during the cold winter months as a heavy coat provides your pet with warmth. The dry heating inside a toasty home can cause more moisture to be lost from your pet’s skin, resulting in dry, flaky skin that can make your pet susceptible to skin infections. Consider bathing your pet less frequently during the winter to avoid stripping natural oils from its coat. You may also wish to use a pet-friendly leave-in mousse to condition its skin and fur. My personal favorite is Douxo Calm Mousse for Dogs & Cats. (Ask your personal vet about it today!)

Finally, do not leave your pet inside a parked vehicle during cold weather. Just like the dangers of leaving your dog or cat inside a hot car during the summer months, an automobile with no heat during the winter can likewise be perilous since the temperature inside the metal vehicle can rapidly drop below freezing in very cold weather.

2. It’s Sweater Weather!

If your pet still needs a bit of added warmth (despite his or her soft fur coat), consider purchasing a sweater or water-repelling, fleece-lined coat. If your pet is wearing “clothing” for the first time, it may take some getting used to. Always choose an appropriate size for your pet as items that are too tight may interfere with movement and breathing or else your pet’s limbs may become tangled in articles that are too loose. My dog, Magnolia, is obsessed with her sweaters (or maybe I’m just projecting my love of layering on her), but she does admittedly look like a little old granny in her cute knit jumpers. 😀

 

 

3. Pause for your pet’s paws.

Your dog or cat’s feet require extra attention during the winter months. As discussed, the toes are at increased risk of frostbite if they are exposed to extreme cold temperatures for an extended period of time. Cuts and lacerations to the feet can also occur if your pet steps on a sharp piece of ice. Furthermore, the bottom of your pet’s paw pads and the skin in between the toes can become very irritated and inflamed due to walking through hardened snow or on outdoor surfaces that have been salted to prevent ice development. Always wipe off your pet’s paws when returning from outdoor walks during the winter to remove snow balls, moisture, and potentially harmful chemicals such as salt and antifreeze. As I’m sure you know, antifreeze is extremely deadly to animals if ingested. (Keep reading below under #8 for more information on antifreeze toxicity.)

While salt itself is not necessarily toxic in small amounts, if your pet licks its paws after travelling through salted areas, he or she may develop gastrointestinal upset (vomiting or diarrhea). If consumed in large quantities, however, salt can be very hazardous if your dog or cat develops severe hypernatremia (dangerously high blood sodium level), which can result in life-threatening swelling of the brain, seizures, and cardiac abnormalities. So keep a watch on your pets outside to prevent them from consuming any piles of salt on the ground.

You may also wish to purchase a pair of booties for your pet to protect their feet and to provide warmth. Winter boots definitely take some time for your pet to feel comfortable wearing (as you can see from the hilarious video featured below – *warning: mild language*), but hopefully your pet will adore the added comfort that booties can provide.

Additionally, keep your pet’s “toesies” healthy by rubbing a small amount of petroleum jelly or musher’s balm, such as Musher’s Secret Pet Paw Protection Wax (originally developed for sled dogs). These products protect and moisturize your pet’s paw pads to prevent cracking and to minimize irritation.

 

 

4. Let’s break the ice… water.

Frozen water is excellent for skating rinks, but not so great for your pet’s drinking water. If your pet has an outdoor water bowl or if its water is located in a cold area of your house, keep an eye on it to ensure that the water has not frozen. We don’t want your dog or cat to become dehydrated this winter. If the water in your pet’s bowl keeps freezing, an electric heated bowl (such as this one by Farm Innovators) is a nifty product to have on hand when temperatures start to drop. Also, keep an eye that your pet is not drinking from puddles of melted snow outside as salt or antifreeze may have collected in these areas.

 

 

5. But the fire is so delightful!

A cheerful fireplace during a blustery winter evening is pure magic! Your pet will likely love the warmth of the fire too, but be sure that he or she does not get too close to flames or popping ashes in order to prevent a household fire. If your home has a kerosene or propane heater, be sure to section it off so that your pet cannot get too near to burn itself. While kerosene and propane provide excellent heat, they can also create carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless gas that is toxic to pets and humans if inhaled. Keep these heaters in a well-ventilated area, and make sure that they have a working gauge to monitor oxygen levels. Check your fire and carbon monoxide detectors in your home, and consider placing these Pet Alert stickers on your windows to alert firefighters about your pet’s presence in case of an emergency. In addition, prevent your pet from chewing on the electrical cords of other space heaters to avoid electrocution. And always provide your pet with an area to move away from your heat source if he or she needs to cool off.

Is your dog suddenly intolerant of cold temperatures and seeking warmth more than he or she did before in addition to experiencing decreased energy, weight gain, hair loss, and skin or ear infections? Your dog may have hypothyroidism. Consult your veterinarian today.

 

 

6. Ummm… Your cat’s “motor” is running.

During cold weather, outdoor cats may seek shelter by hiding in the wheel well or by the warm engine inside the hood of your car. Sadly, cats may become injured or killed by the fan belt if your car is started while the cat is still hiding. If the cat is lucky enough to avoid injury, it may be carried off away from its home if it stows away while you travel along. During cold weather, look for cats around your automobile and always give a warning by banging on the hood of your car or honking your horn prior to turning on the ignition. And give potentially hiding cats a few moments to escape before starting your vehicle. If you do hear any odd noises after starting your car, immediately stop, turn off the ignition, and check under your hood. (Read #9 below to learn how you can provide warm shelters to stray cats in your neighborhood.)

7. Not a creature was stirring, not even a… MOUSE?!!!

Cats aren’t the only critters that try to hide from ol’ Jack Frost. Rats and mice may also sneak into your home to seek warmth. Before putting out rat poison (a.k.a. rodenticides) to rid your house of these pests, read our article on rat bait toxicity to protect your dogs and cats from accidental toxin ingestion and to learn about more humane options for rodent control.

Click here to read more about Rat Bait Toxicity in Dogs and Cats.

8. I’m anti-(toxic)-antifreeze!

While we’re on the topic of toxins, let’s talk about antifreeze. Antifreeze is an engine coolant added to one’s car in times of cold temperatures in order to lower the freezing point of other automobile liquids. It may also be found in various industrial solvents, rust removers, and other household and industrial agents. The most common types of antifreeze currently in use are ethylene glycol and propylene glycol. (Methanol is another lesser used antifreeze substance that is also very toxic.) Ethylene glycol is extremely poisonous to dogs and cats if ingested while propylene glycol is relatively less toxic and is frequently marked as a “non-toxic” antifreeze. Both products have a sweet taste, so pets (especially dogs) are innately drawn to lapping up these liquids if they have leaked from your vehicle. Be sure to check the ingredients label of your antifreeze or ask your mechanic which type of antifreeze solution was used in your car, and choose a propylene glycol-based product whenever possible. Regardless, prevent your pet from licking any spilled liquids you see around vehicles, and be sure to wipe off his or her paws when returning indoors in case your pet stepped in any contaminants.

Only a small dose of ethylene glycol can be lethal to dogs and cats, with cats being more susceptible to the toxin with quicker onset of poisoning. Why is ethylene glycol so toxic? Well, it’s actually the byproducts that the body creates when it metabolizes ethylene glycol that are so toxic. These chemicals affect the body in 3 ways: 1) central nervous system (CNS) impairment (dysfunction of the brain and spinal cord), 2) depression of the lungs and bloodstream abnormalities (metabolic acidosis, or low blood pH), and 3) acute kidney failure. Within the first 12 hours following ingestion, you may notice that your pet is walking in an uncoordinated manner as if “drunk”, becomes weak or appears very sleepy, has trembling muscles, or vomits. Within the first 12-24 hours, your dog or cat may also have a decreased appetite yet increased urination and water consumption (polyuria and polydipsia, or PU/PD, respectively), have small pupil size (miosis), feel cold to the touch (hypothermia), and breathe more slowly and more shallowly (due to fluid accumulation around the lungs and CNS impairment). Within 24 hours (or as early as 12 hours in cats), your pet may cease urinating due to shutdown of the kidneys, develop oral ulcerations (mouth sores), begin having seizures, or enter into a coma. Death can occur within 12-24 hours (or even more quickly) if ethylene glycol toxicity is not immediately diagnosed and aggressive treatment started. Unfortunately, many animals may die despite therapy. If you see your pet consuming antifreeze or observe the clinical signs mentioned above, seek emergency veterinary assistance ASAP! If you are in an area without 24 hour veterinary service, call the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) at 1-888-426-4435.

Your vet may confirm his or her suspected diagnosis of antifreeze toxicity with an ethylene glycol detection kit or by bloodwork and a urinalysis. Signs of antifreeze poisoning in your pet’s labwork include low blood pH (acidosis) with an increased anion gap, elevated BUN and creatinine (or azotemia, a sign of kidney damage), high potassium and phosphorus (also signs of kidney impairment), low calcium, elevated blood glucose (i.e. high blood sugar), low urine specific gravity (or low USG, meaning the kidneys are not conserving water or filtering out toxins well), and the presence of monohydrate calcium oxalate crystals in your pet’s urine. These crystals form when a byproduct of metabolized ethylene glycol combines with blood calcium, forming mineral deposits in the kidneys, which cause severe renal damage. Your vet may also perform an ultrasound (sonogram) of your dog or cat’s kidneys to observe a bright “halo-like” appearance around swollen kidneys, indicating the presence of these dangerous crystal deposits.

Once a diagnosis has been made, your vet will either induce your pet to vomit or perform a gastric lavage to pump ethylene glycol out of the GI tract before it has time to be absorbed into the bloodstream and metabolized into its toxic components. This is only effective if the poison was ingested within 4-6 hours. Up to 8 hours following ingestion, your vet may also administer an antidote to ethylene glycol – either fomepizole (a.k.a. 4-methylpyrazole, or 4-MP) or ethanol (meaning high-proof drinking alcohol). These products compete with ethylene glycol for metabolism by an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase, meaning that if fomepizole or ethanol are metabolized by this enzyme before ethylene glycol is, then the dangerous byproducts of ethylene glycol cannot be formed in as high amounts as they would otherwise. If consumption of antifreeze occurred longer than 8 hours prior to treatment initiation, your pet will receive IV fluids to flush the kidneys (likely for several days in-hospital), diuretics (such as furosemide, or Lasix®) to remove excess calcium into urine so that calcium oxalate crystals cannot form in the kidneys, and a low protein diet for about a week.

If antifreeze toxicity is detected and treated quickly prior to the development of kidney failure, the prognosis is generally good. However, if your pet has already succumbed to kidney damage, the prognosis is sadly very grave. May this explanation of antifreeze poisoning give you extra motivation to check around your car and other vehicles in your neighborhood this winter to protect your pet and other animals from ethylene glycol toxicity. Be sure to share this article with all your pet-owning friends and family.

Review our previous articles on bloodwork and urinalysis interpretation for your pets.

9. Now let’s get in formation ’cause I “stray”.

Stray animals unfortunately do not have kind owners like you to protect them from the cold. If a feral cat colony resides in your neighborhood, talk with your local humane society about trap-neuter-release (TNR) programs to control pet overpopulation. Additionally, consider making your own igloo-style insulated cat houses to provide warm, dry shelter for stray animals.

Rescue Me of Ogden, an advocacy group based in Utah for aiding homeless animals and for reuniting lost pets with their owners, once shared these homemade insulated shelters on its Facebook page.

To learn how to make your own similar DIY insulated houses for stray cats or small wildlife (raccoons, opossums, etc.), view this tutorial from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

10. Poppin’ and lockin’… but not in a good way.

During the brutal cold of the winter months, your pet’s pre-existing arthritis (joint inflammation) is likely to worsen. He or she may seem stiffer than usual and be more reluctant to exercise. Talk with your veterinarian about joint supplements (including the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA). If your pet is still painful, also consult your vet about a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) such as meloxicam (Metacam ®) or carprofen (Rimadyl ®). Never give your pet over-the-counter human pain medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol ®), ibuprofen (Advil ®, Motrin ®), or naproxen (Aleve®) as these drugs can be very toxic to dogs and cats; cats are especially susceptible to the potentially deadly effects of these products. While aspirin may be used in dogs and cats with caution and at an appropriate dosage (always ask your vet before administering your pet any medication!!!), aspirin is not very beneficial for alleviating orthopedic pain. Managing your pet’s weight and allowing controlled exercise to keep joints mobile are also recommended for managing arthritis. Investing in a good orthopedic dog bed, such as this one by Serta, may also aid your pet’s painful joints.

Come back later for a future article on over-the-counter human medication safety for pets.

Click here to read our article on how omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil can benefit your pet’s joints and arthritis pain. For more information on how to best manage your dog’s osteoarthritis pain and mobility issues, click here.

 

 

11. Yo, ticks! Ain’t you never heard of winter?!

Don’t forget about flea, tick, and heartworm prevention during the winter months. Fleas, ticks, and heartworm-spreading mosquitoes can transmit diseases to dogs and cats even during the cold season, so your pet should receive consistent prevention from these parasites year-round. During sporadic warm days in otherwise chilly months, fleas, ticks, and an occasional mosquito may become more active outdoors. Just this past Tuesday (11/29), I found a nymph deer tick (Ixodes scapularis) on myself following an outside walk with my dog, Magnolia. Deer ticks (or black-legged ticks) can transmit Lyme disease to dogs and humans, resulting in joint and kidney disease. Various ticks can also infect dogs and cats with many other potentially deadly diseases, such as Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Hepatozoon, and Cytauxzoon.

Likewise, mosquitoes may also start stirring around on unusually warm winter days. Mosquitoes can transmit heartworms, primarily to dogs although cats can also become infected. Heartworm infections can lead to heart failure and death if not detected and treated. Keep your pet safe by choosing a veterinary-approved prevention year-round.

Fleas, on the other hand, can also survive inside your home during the winter months, causing skin irritation and allergies, potential anemia (low red blood cells) in puppies and kittens with heavy infestations, tapeworm transmission, and possible Mycoplasma infection in cats (which can be fatal).

If your pet is not already on consistent year-round flea, tick, and heartworm prevention, ask your vet about various products today, including the Seresto collar, which provides 8 months of flea and tick control for small dogs, large dogs, or cats.

Read our articles on the basics of preventative medicine (such as flea, tick, and heartworm products) in dogs and cats. And check out our article on Heartworm Disease, its consequences, and why heartworm prevention is so important in dogs and cats.

 

 

The Meowing Vet hopes that you have the gorgeous Winter Wonderland of your dreams this year. By following our simple cold weather safety tips, you can help your pet enjoy this chilly season too! Please spread the word by sharing this article with all your animal-loving friends and family. ❄️

For more information on dog or cat well-being, contact us or follow us on Facebook to see our daily pet videos and articles. Join us next time to learn about Holiday Safety Tips. And while you’re in the festive spirit, check out our Holiday Gift Guide for Pets and Pet Lovers!

– Maranda Elswick, DVM

(and Magnolia)