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Bundle
up for the Winter!!
Like you
most dogs and cats (or rabbits, ferrets, and guinea pigs)
cannot withstand winter's bitter cold and numbing wetness. Keep
your pet happy and healthy during the winter months. Keep these
tips in mind when the weather starts to chill:
Don't leave your pets outdoors when the temperatures drop
sharply: Short-haired, very young, or old dogs and cats should
never be left outside. Dogs and cats are safer indoors.
No matter what the temperature wind chill can threaten a pet's
life: an outdoor dog must be protected by a dry, draft-free
doghouse that is large enough to allow the animal to lie
down comfortably, but small enough to hold in its body heat,
with a floor raised a few inches off the ground and covered with
cedar shavings. The house should also face away from the wind
and have a doorway covered with burlap or a rug.
Outdoor dogs need more food in the winter, because keeping warm
depletes energy: Make sure they get enough to eat. Also, always
check your dog's water dishes to make certain the water is fresh
and unfrozen.
Other winter hazards: The warm engines of parked cars attract
cats. Often they climb under the hood to keep warm. Be on the
lookout!! Salt and chemicals used to melt snow and ice can burn
the pads of pets' feet. Anti-freeze tastes sweet, but is a
deadly poison to pets (and children). Always check around your
care for leaking antifreeze, and don't leave chemicals around
that pets could get in to. Take precautions against these winter
damages.
*Keep
those pets warm. Bundle up!!*
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