Extra care needed for pets in cold

Extremely cold temperatures affect animals, too, and require additional diligence on the part of pet owners, according to Dr. Karen Sherman of Oak View Animal Clinic.

“The biggest thing is keep a basic supply - plenty of pet food, water, medications,” she said, “in case the electricity goes out and roads are not safe to travel.”

Sherman recommended providing a warm place for pets saying that outside animals need insulated shelter. She said that withshelter the correct size for the animal that is well insulated helps contain the animal’s body heat and keep it warm.

“They can suffer just like humans. Young and senior animals will suffer more.”

“In this kind of weather - zero degree temperatures - they have to have more cover, shelter,” she said, adding to consider the type of animal when selecting bedding. Whereas blankets may be good for cats, dogs that are prone to chewing blankets will do better with straw bedding.

She said pine shavings are good but cedar shavings can irritate a dog’s skin. “Do not use a heat lamp or heating pad, it can burn the animal.

They make heated mats for pets; don’t use a regular heating pad.

She also recommended putting a covering over an outside pen to protect from snow and wind.

“Of course, check the water several times a day because it freezes.”

Other cautions, Sherman said, are that ice melt chemicals are irritating to the skin and when an animal licks its paws, can cause intestinal irritation. She also said antifreeze is extremely poisonous to animals. “A few licks can be fatal,” she said.

Cats are “heat seekers,” Sherman said, adding that she recommends honking the horn of a vehicle beforestarting it to warn o◊any cats that may have crawled into the car engine area.

With large farm animals, Sherman said that every year when temperatures drop below freezing there are cases of newborn calves that freeze to the ground and su◊er tissue damage and sometimes death. She recommends watching for cows due to calve and getting to the newborn calf to dry it and if necessary, warm it.

“They have to have shelter from the wind. And, spread hay out to lay on and not just eat,” she said. “Feed more often … extra protein helps - grain, corn are heat producers. Feeding more often provides internal heat.”