Winter took its sweet time getting here, but it looks as though it’s about to make a roaring entrance.
Whether you’re staying inside or bundling up to face the cold, remember to ensure your pets are warm and safe too. Here are a few ways to keep your pets safe and healthy as the cold settles in:
- Keep them warm. If it’s too cold for you to stay outside, it’s too cold for your pet. When the temperature drops to single digits, it can be fatal for pets, even with a doghouse and straw. Bring them inside when temps drop. If they must stay outside, ensure they have enough food, non-frozen water, and shelter with dry bedding.* Pillows and blankets can retain water and freeze, making them unsuitable for outdoor shelters. Michigan Humane offers straw distribution. Learn more here.
- Leave their coats long. Animals’ coats help protect their skin and body from the cold. During the winter months, it’s best not to shave animals down to the skin. Trims are still recommended to prevent matting.
- Protect their paws. Cleaning off their paws when they come inside can remove salt and de-icing chemicals, they may have walked in. Chemicals such as anti-freeze can be harmful to pets. You can also use paw wax or booties to protect their paw pads.
- Keep them dry. Drying off their whole body after time outside helps them get warm faster.
- Increase their calories. While working to stay warm, animals use more calories. During the winter months, it can be helpful to increase food slightly to ensure a healthy weight. Talk to your vet with any questions about your pet’s diet.
- Give them a cozy bed. Temperatures drop in the evening, so give your pet a warm bed away from drafts and the floor. Adding a blanket or a pillow can help keep them warm too.
As the cold, wet weather returns, make sure your pets stay dry and warm too. If you are in Detroit, Hamtramck, or Highland Park and suspect an animal is at risk in the cold weather, call the Michigan Humane Cruelty Hotline at (313) 872-3401.
*Michigan laws require animals to be given adequate care including shelter that provides protection from the elements and weather conditions appropriate for the animal’s age, species, and physical condition to maintain the animal in a state of good health. For dogs, this means inside a house; a doghouse with a roof that is the correct size for their weight and breed and dry bedding when temperatures drop below freeze; or an insulated, ventilated structure like a garage, barn, or shed.