Cold is coming: Keep your pets and other animals safe and warm

By Kelly Terpstra, kterpstra@charlescitypress.com

Winter weather in Iowa can chill right down to the bone.

While families can stay warm and toasty by the fireplace, remember that animals often don’t have that same luxury.

While temperatures across the state have been relatively mild so far this winter, double-digit-below-zero wind chills are in the forecast for this weekend.

Dr. John Moellers has run his veterinarian practice at the Charles City Animal Clinic for about 18 years. He said the right type of shelter is important for outdoor pets. The cover or warm place to stay snug should be the appropriate size in comparison to how big the animal is.

“It needs to be large enough that they can stand, turn around and lay down comfortably. You don’t want it too much larger than that because the body heat will keep it warm if it’s a smaller area. They can’t do that if the shelter is too large,” said Moellers.

Moellers said its best to have some type of insulation in the animal’s quarters and bedding material also helps your four-legged loved ones stay warm and safe.

“Their body heat will help keep it warm when they’re in there,” said Moellers.

It’s also important to know how well your pet is acclimated to colder temperatures, something that obviously varies from animal to animal.

Adjusting an animal to colder temperatures gradually helps them develop a thick coat. Moellers said animals get used to temperatures dipping below freezing in the fall, but older dogs or cats can find that difficult sometimes. That’s why it’s important to constantly monitor and check on your pet to look for signs of slow movement or general malaise in the animal.

“Most pet owners have an idea of what their pets’ normal attitude is — how alert they are and active they are. They can tell when they’re feeling mellow,” said Moellers.

Moellers mentioned that keeping track of your pet to make sure it doesn’t have frostbite is also important. He said their paws and ears are the most common areas to check.

When the mercury dips to extremely dangerous levels, pet owners should think about  bringing animals inside. Moellers added that decision is based on what your pet is used to and owners want to avoid extreme temperature changes one way or the other.

“If it’s extremely cold out — like sub-zero temperatures — then it’s OK to bring them in.

“If they’re not used to that, don’t bring them into a home that’s heated to 70 degrees,” he said, suggesting that a garage or a porch or other protected area might be better for an animal used to living outdoors, when the temperature plummets to dangerous levels.

Larger animals like horses do a very good job of staying warm in the weather, but a shed or barn they can stay in can also give them a break, Moellers said.

He also said putting a blanket on a horse wouldn’t hurt, either, when the weather outside gets extreme.

For indoor pets, Moellers said that checking the animal’s paws after it’s been outside is very helpful. There could be ice and salt on the feet that could be harmful to the animal.

The wind is also very damaging to a pet if it’s exposed to the elements for an extended period of time.

“You need to look at windchill in addition to the temperature. Giving them shelter from the winds and drafts and things like that is obviously very helpful to them as well,” Moellers added.

What an animal eats can be just as important as the dwelling it resides in. Proper nutrition is essential for animals to be able to handle extreme weather conditions.

“If they’re under-conditioned or if they’re thin, the colder temperatures are a lot harder on them. They’re more susceptible to illness because of that,” said Moellers. “The animals generate their own body heat by metabolizing the food they ingest.”

But many pets aren’t as active in winter, so owners should also not overfeed an animal, Moellers said.

Access to water and making sure it doesn’t freeze over can make all the difference in the world for a pet on a long winter’s night.

“Obviously, if the water freezes and they don’t drink enough they can become dehydrated and that makes them more susceptible to illnesses and horses to colic and things like that,” said Moellers.

Respiratory infections can be problematic for animals in the winter. Stress from the frigid elements can also play a role in the upper chest areas where an animal will have a harder time breathing.

“All animals are more susceptible to respiratory infections in the winter — just like people are in the cold and flu season. Just because those viruses and bacteria survive better in colder, damp temperatures. Be observant of that,” Moellers said.

Moellers also wanted to point out that vehicles are often a place a cat will hide to get away from the cold.

“Cats will crawl onto the hood or to the engine compartments of vehicles that are parked to try and find a warm place. Be aware of that or check that before you start up your engine,” he said.