Caring for pets in winter

What to pay attention to and how to prevent hypothermia

In winter, getting outside, where the air temperature drops below 0° C, pets face the problem of a sharp drop in temperature and humidity, which leads to various diseases.

Therefore, Save Pets of Ukraine has collected recommendations on what to pay attention to during winter walks and how to protect pets from the cold.

It is important to remember that the longer the animal is in the cold, the faster its paw pads, ears, tip of the tail and other exposed parts of the body become cold and may freeze. If precipitation is added to the cold, the problem becomes more extensive, even with a relatively short stay outside.

Be very attentive to your four-legged friends and immediately, as soon as you notice signs of hypothermia, head for warmth.

1. THE BEHAVIOR.

During the walk, keep a close eye on the animal. Trembling and pinching paws is a sure sign that it is cold.

If the dog is shivering after returning from a walk, wipe it with a dry towel. You can also offer to drink a little sweetened water - this will help the tail to warm up.

2. REST AND ACTIVITIES.

Spend time actively on a walk. Choose mobile games to prevent the animal from lying on the cold ground for a long time, as this increases the risk of hypothermia.

3. ANIMAL PROTECTION

City roads and footpaths are abundantly sprinkled with reagents that, falling on the delicate skin of the paws, corrode the tissues, which leads to irritation and inflammatory processes, sometimes even to the formation of ulcers and the development of dermatitis.

Take care of your pet and be sure to treat the pads of the paws with special wax, creams or aerosols before going outside.

But if the skin on the pads of your pet's paws is too sensitive or there are inflammations or injuries on them, it is better to buy him shoes.

4. WALKS ON ICE.

Another danger in winter is ice. Pets can stretch ligaments, dislocate paws or get fractures. To avoid this, it is better to temporarily exclude sudden movements.

Try to avoid areas covered with ice and suspicious areas where broken glass, rusty nails and other dangerous objects may be hiding under the snow.

If it was not possible to avoid an injury, immediately show your pet to a veterinarian, because a serious injury that needs treatment may be hidden under a slight lameness.

5. HARMFUL HABITS

If the animal has a habit of eating snow, then it is necessary to wean it, as this is another way of hypothermia.

6. AMMUNITION.

Save the metal muzzles for the warm season, as they cool quickly in the winter. And they also have fairly large holes through which snow will fall on the wool and make it wet.

Therefore, in winter, the animal will be more comfortable in a leather muzzle.

7. CARE AFTER A WALK

After a walk, be sure to wash the dog's paws with a special detergent. Dangerous reagents can harm not only the skin, but also lead to poisoning if the pet licks them off its paws.

After washing, don't forget to apply a thin layer of a special protective or baby cream to the skin of the paws.

Some may not be aware of the dangerous effects of cold weather on an animal, so if you notice a pet left out in the cold, politely let the petparent know that you are concerned about the risk to its health.