Suki
10-26-2005, 09:45 PM
<TABLE cellPadding=5 width="75%" bgColor=#ffffff border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Pennsylvania SPCA Information on
WINTERIZING YOUR PETS
</TD></TR><TR><TD>Winter poses special risks to cats and dogs. They are warm-blooded mammals that are vulnerable to the cold and to the health problems resulting from overexposure. Having a fur coat is not enough protection from the biting wind and freezing temperatures
Keep the following tips in mind for a safe and healthy winter season:
Pets should be kept indoors in a dry, warm area that is free of drafts. Dogs and cats are social animals that need to be with people and involved with the activity - not kept away from it. Pets are truly a part of the family when they live inside the house with their owners. Depriving a pet of social contact is just as serious an act of neglect as depriving your pet of food or water. Pets left alone also tend to develop behavioral problems such as constant barking, chewing or digging. Don't leave your pet alone in the cold out in the yard.
Pets should be dressed for the cold weather if they need the protection. In the freezing weather, pets should be dressed if you take them out on a long walk. Particularly older pets and young puppies or kittens, miniature and shorthaired or hairless breeds of dogs should be dressed.
Remove ice and ice-melting chemicals from your pet's paws when you return from walks. The chemicals irritate the paws and may get your pet sick if he licks his paws and ingests the chemicals.
Report strays. During the winter, stray animals may be in a more urgent situation. You can feel good about getting the animal out of the cold and turning it over to people who care.
Pets like the smell and taste of antifreeze, but even a small amount can be poisonous. Antifreeze spills and leaks should be cleaned up immediately. An environmentally safe alternative to traditional antifreeze is Sierra brand, considered to be safe for children and pets by the Food and Drug Administration and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Loose cats and kittens seeking shelter and warmth often crawl up under car hoods and rest on warm car engines. You can knock on the hood or beep the horn before starting the car to alert the animal.
Pets should be supervised near space heaters.
Dogs that are kept outside, even temporarily, must have shelter that protects the pet from snow, wind, rain and cold. The doghouse must have four sides, a good roof and floor and it must be up off of the ground at least a few inches. The opening should be just wide enough for the dog to gain entry. The entrance must be protected by a flap of heavy material to serve as a windbreaker. The doghouse must be watertight and should be insulated. The dog must be able to assume all normal positions inside the house including sleeping with its body fully stretched out. The doghouse must be kept clean and sanitary at all times and should have bedding of straw or cedar chips.
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During the colder weather, have pity for your pittie! Bring 'em in, and keep 'em warm!:)
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WINTERIZING YOUR PETS
</TD></TR><TR><TD>Winter poses special risks to cats and dogs. They are warm-blooded mammals that are vulnerable to the cold and to the health problems resulting from overexposure. Having a fur coat is not enough protection from the biting wind and freezing temperatures
Keep the following tips in mind for a safe and healthy winter season:
Pets should be kept indoors in a dry, warm area that is free of drafts. Dogs and cats are social animals that need to be with people and involved with the activity - not kept away from it. Pets are truly a part of the family when they live inside the house with their owners. Depriving a pet of social contact is just as serious an act of neglect as depriving your pet of food or water. Pets left alone also tend to develop behavioral problems such as constant barking, chewing or digging. Don't leave your pet alone in the cold out in the yard.
Pets should be dressed for the cold weather if they need the protection. In the freezing weather, pets should be dressed if you take them out on a long walk. Particularly older pets and young puppies or kittens, miniature and shorthaired or hairless breeds of dogs should be dressed.
Remove ice and ice-melting chemicals from your pet's paws when you return from walks. The chemicals irritate the paws and may get your pet sick if he licks his paws and ingests the chemicals.
Report strays. During the winter, stray animals may be in a more urgent situation. You can feel good about getting the animal out of the cold and turning it over to people who care.
Pets like the smell and taste of antifreeze, but even a small amount can be poisonous. Antifreeze spills and leaks should be cleaned up immediately. An environmentally safe alternative to traditional antifreeze is Sierra brand, considered to be safe for children and pets by the Food and Drug Administration and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Loose cats and kittens seeking shelter and warmth often crawl up under car hoods and rest on warm car engines. You can knock on the hood or beep the horn before starting the car to alert the animal.
Pets should be supervised near space heaters.
Dogs that are kept outside, even temporarily, must have shelter that protects the pet from snow, wind, rain and cold. The doghouse must have four sides, a good roof and floor and it must be up off of the ground at least a few inches. The opening should be just wide enough for the dog to gain entry. The entrance must be protected by a flap of heavy material to serve as a windbreaker. The doghouse must be watertight and should be insulated. The dog must be able to assume all normal positions inside the house including sleeping with its body fully stretched out. The doghouse must be kept clean and sanitary at all times and should have bedding of straw or cedar chips.
************************************************** **********
During the colder weather, have pity for your pittie! Bring 'em in, and keep 'em warm!:)
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