The Bakersfield Voice

By: Courtesy of Kern County Animal Control

Winter weather will soon be upon us. You may be ready for winter, but are your pets?

“A lot of owners think that because their pets have fur coats, they can more easily endure the winter weather,” said Denise Haynes, Kern County Animal Control Division Chief. “However, that is not always the case. Dogs and cats need to be prepared for any exposure to winter weather.”

The following simple tips can ensure that you and your pets enjoy all that winter has to offer:

• Bring dogs and cats indoors when the temperature drops. Most dogs and all cats are safer indoors. If your dog must be outside, provide a dry, draft-free doghouse that is large enough to allow the dog to sit and lie down comfortably, but small enough to hold its body heat. The floor should be raised a few inches off the ground and covered with a warm blanket, bedding or towels. The house should be turned to face away from the wind, and the doorway should be covered with waterproof burlap or heavy plastic.

• Keeping warm requires more energy and more food. Pets that spend a lot of time outdoors need extra servings.

• Routinely check your pet’s water dish to make certain the water is fresh and unfrozen. Use plastic food and water bowls rather than metal; when the temperature is low, your pet's tongue can stick to metal.

• Keep your pet well-groomed. Matted fur is not very efficient at insulating.

• If your pet begins to shiver, it is time to bring them in from playing. According to the American Animal Hospital Association, animals are vulnerable to frostbite and hypothermia in less than an hour.

• For small breeds and breeds with little hair, consider getting a coat or sweater with a high collar or turtleneck with coverage from the base of the tail to the belly.

• You may want to protect your dog’s paws with boots or protective wax and spray products. (Usually available at pet supply stores.) Ice cuts and abrasions on the pads of your pet’s paws aren’t that unusual during the winter months. Treated salty sidewalks can also be drying and irritating.

• Never leave your dog or cat alone in a car during cold weather. A car can act as a refrigerator, holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death.

• Like coolant, antifreeze is lethal to dogs and cats. Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle.

• Before you start your car, bang on the hood. Cats and other animals often climb into the engine to stay warm in the winter. Banging on the hood will frighten the animals away.

“Winter can be hard on our animal friends, and it takes more than love to keep them warm and safe,” Haynes said. “With these suggestions your pets will be welcoming the return of warm weather in good health.”

For more information, visit: www.co.kern.ca.us/acd or call 868-7104.