11/05/2024
5 Safety Tips to Keep Your Pet Healthy and Safe This Winter
Though we don't want to admit that summer is over, we have to prepare for our winter season that's coming up!
As much as some things have changed, cold weather and certain foods remain a health and safety risk for pets. To help keep your furry family member healthy and safe this season, here are five safety tips:
1. Some Chemical De-Icers Can Be Toxic
Chemical de-icers containing ethylene glycol are a deadly poison for dogs. As a standard de-icing agent found in antifreeze and winter windshield washer fluid, ethylene glycol has a sweet taste that many dogs find irresistible—and it only takes a small amount to cause permanent and fatal damage to their kidneys.
2. Road Salt Can Burn Paw Pads
Road salt can cause painful burning to paw pads, and when licked off by your dog, salt can cause irritation and inflammation to the mouth and digestive tract.
3. Winter Chill Can Be Deadly
While some dog breeds are built better than others to withstand cold temperatures, prolonged exposure for dogs to wind chill and cold temperatures can cause fatality from hypothermia. When temperatures drop, keep walks and outdoor playtime to a minimum. Dog jackets can help dogs stay warmer for longer in winter weather, but don’t wait until your dog starts shivering before heading back indoors.
4. Protect Pets Against Jack Frostbite
Paws, ears, and tails (like human hands and faces) are susceptible to frostbite. To help protect dog paws, boots in a wide variety of styles are easily found online and in pet stores. In addition to helping tender paws stay dry, dog boots often come with soles, which also provide added traction in icy conditions.
5. Certain Foods Are Toxic for Pets
Delicious meals and treats are intrinsic to the holiday season, and you may be tempted to share the feast with your furry family member. However, many foods found in seasonal dishes and treats are toxic to pets. Do not give these foods to your pet:
• Chocolate: All forms of chocolate are toxic and potentially fatal to dogs and cats.
• Xylitol: As a sugar substitute widely found in sugar-free gum and candies, baked goods, gummy vitamins, and toothpaste, xylitol (a.k.a. birch sugar) can cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), liver failure, seizures, and even death in dogs.
• Onions, garlic, chives, and leeks cause a form of anemia in dogs and cats. Depending on the amount consumed, the results can also include increased heart rate, elevated respiration, collapse, and often death. Toxicity can occur from raw, fried, dehydrated, or powdered forms of these foods.
• Grapes, raisins, and currants can cause kidney failure in dogs. Any ingestion should be cause for concern, regardless of the grape variety.
• Macadamia nuts: Both raw and roasted macadamia nuts are considered dangerous. Symptoms of toxicity include lethargy, joint stiffness or hind limb weakness, fever, tremors, and vomiting. Some dogs can also develop pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) due to the high fat content of these nuts.
If you have any questions about your pet’s health, please do not hesitate to contact us. We’re here to help with any pet concerns.
