4 Pet Safety Tips for Winter Weather
You want to keep your pet safe at all times. This is especially important in the winter because your pet has unique needs that must be addressed. Your pet requires more care and protection when the weather turns cold. You should know about four pet safety tips for winter weather.
- Put on protective clothing when going outside: The first tip is to put protective clothing like a sweater and booties on your pet when going outside. Although your pet does have a fur coat, it is not always thick enough to provide adequate protection from winter weather. Additionally, it can take some time for your pet to grow a coat suitable for the cold weather. Keep your pet warm with some protective clothing.
- Block heat sources in your home: Fireplaces and space heaters can be very dangerous for pets in the winter. Your pet might decide to lie very close to the heat source. This can cause fur to ignite. It could even cause serious burns before your pet knows what is going on. Put up protective barriers around heat sources whenever possible. Use a fireplace screen to keep pets several feet away from the flames. Put space heaters in places pets cannot reach. If you cannot, then watch the space heater at all times while your pet is around.
- Be extra cautious with chemicals: Several different chemicals used in the winter can be troublesome for your pet. This includes antifreeze for your car or kerosene for a heating system. Be extra cautious when handling these chemicals. Store them high off the ground or in a locked cabinet. If there are spills, then clean them up immediately to prevent your pet from ingesting the toxic chemicals.
- Reduce the time spent outdoors: Reduce the amount of time your pet spends outdoors in winter. Your pet’s ears and tail are highly vulnerable to cold weather and frostbite. Try not to spend more than 15 to 30 minutes in winter weather at one time. Never let your pet out in winter weather for any length of time without direct supervision.
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