A dangerous cold front this weekend in Oklahoma City is expected to send temperatures plummeting to the single digits, which can be deadly for pets without a warm place to take shelter.
Keep your pets safe during freezing weather by following Animal Welfare’s tips for pet owners:
- Keep your pet inside whenever possible. Make sure your pet has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from drafts. A cozy dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow is perfect.
- Always keep an ID tag on your pet’s neck so if he gets lost, he can be returned to you. If you lose your pet, visit okc.gov/animalwelfare to see pictures of animals that have been brought to the Animal Shelter.
- If you keep your pet outside, ensure they have a warm, covered place to escape from rain and snow. Pay attention because water in their dish can freeze quickly.
- During the winter, outdoor cats sometimes sleep under the hoods of cars. When the motor is started, the cat can be injured or killed by the fan belt. If there are outdoor cats in your area, bang loudly on the car hood before starting the engine to give the cat a chance to escape.
- Thoroughly wipe off your dog's legs and stomach when he or she comes in out of the sleet, snow or ice after a walk. Dogs can ingest salt, antifreeze or other dangerous chemicals while licking their paws, and their paw pads may also bleed from snow or encrusted ice.
- Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter, as a longer coat will provide more warmth. When you bathe your dog in colder months, completely dry him before walks. Own a short-haired breed? Consider getting him a coat or sweater with a high collar or turtleneck with coverage from the base of the tail to the belly. For many dogs, this is regulation winter wear.
- Never leave your dog or cat alone in a car during cold weather. A car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death.
- Puppies do not tolerate the cold as well as adult dogs, and may be difficult to housebreak during the winter. If your puppy appears to be sensitive to the weather, opt to paper-train the puppy inside. If your dog is sensitive to the cold due to age, illness or breed type, take him or her outdoors only for bathroom breaks.
- If your dog enjoys spending of time outside, give him or her more food than usual to give the dog more protein, which helps grow a thick fur coat.
- Like coolant, antifreeze is a lethal poison for dogs and cats. Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle, and consider using products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol.
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Media Contact
Jon Gary
(405) 297-3116
jonathan.gary@okc.gov
