Extreme Cold Weather Pet Tips: Preparing for the Winter Storm

Posted Wednesday, January 6, 2010, at 9:26 AM

This is a repost from one of my winter blogs from last year, but it's going to be SO cold the next couple of days, that it bears repeating.

WOW!! It's REALLY cold outside today. Even though we are able to bundle up and stay warm, our pets need special considerations during the extreme cold. Things you should consider, especially if your pet stays outdoors:

Make sure your pet has fresh, unfrozen water available.

Using non-metal food and water bowls during freezing temperatures, so pets don't get their tongues or mouths frozen to the surface.

A dog house or shelter that faces away from the wind.

Extra blankets or hay inside shelter/dog houses.

During extreme cold, if you can, bringing your pet indoors for the night.

Check out other COLD WEATHER TIPS from the ASPCA

Comments
Showing comments in chronological order
[Show most recent comments first]

Is there anything else we can feed our stray cat family to help them with the cold?

They have access to small caves, long culverts under the road, hollow trees and I am not really sure where they actually spend the night anymore. They come from several directions at feeding time.

Until I can get them fixed and checked for infectious diseases like feline leukemia, I can not bring them home to our other cats.

-- Posted by stevemills on Wed, Jan 6, 2010, at 12:01 PM

I don't know of anything, unless you feed them extra. I know it takes extra to keep them going in cold weather.

-- Posted by cherylrichardson on Wed, Jan 6, 2010, at 1:18 PM

Check out Thursday's TG for some more safety and health tips for animals and people during the cold weather.

ASPCA suggests higher protein diets during the cold.

-- Posted by MotherMayhem on Wed, Jan 6, 2010, at 2:19 PM