Pet Care Tips

The information provided is not meant to be a substitute for veterinary care. Always follow the instructions provided by your veterinarian.

Evacuation Preparedness

When you are making preparations to evacuate do not forget to pack for your pets. Use this checklist to help ensure you've got what you need:

  • Food, water and medicines for five days
  • Medical and veterinary records
  • Carrier, toys, blanket or bed
  • Litter box and litter
  • ID attached to your pet
  • Pet carrier and/or leash
  • Current photos of pet with physical description

Click here to get more information on how to prepare your pets for emergencies.
 

Winter Pet Care

The following pet care tips have been compiled from Humane Society of the United States, Dr. Sue’s Fall and Winter Pet Care Tips, Janet Tobiassen Crosby, DVM, Dog Owner’s Guide, ASPCA, Pfizer, Bernadine Cruz, DVM, Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

There is a common misconception that dogs will be “fine” if left outside. Pets, like humans, can suffer from cold weather. If you’re cold enough to go inside, it is too cold for the pet to stay out much longer. However, do not bring your pet in and out of a warm house from night to day. Creating an abrupt temperature contrast can increase the risk of some infectious diseases. Animals need a warm, comfortable place to stay during cold weather.

Dogs and cats should be inside if the weather conditions are rainy, snowy or severe. Dogs and cats are safer indoors in all sorts of weather. Animals should never be left outdoors unattended as they risk being stolen or otherwise being harmed. Inside pets should be provided with a warm, cozy area, free from drafts. Bedding that is off cold floors and washed weekly is best for your companion animal.

The Humane Society of San Bernardino Valley urges everyone to be watchful and to take a few common sense precautions in order to safe guard animals against the challenges they face during winter’s bitter cold temperatures. Despite their “fur” coats, domesticated animals like cats and dogs depend upon humans for protection from freezing temperatures. The Humane Society is offering the following winterizing tips for optimizing your companion animal’s comfort and well-being and to help keep all animals safe and less stressed through the cold winter months.

SNUG AS A BUG!
Although dogs maintain a normal body temperature that is a few degrees higher than a human’s temperature, they still need some help to stay warm in cold weather. Wind-chill can threaten a pet’s life, no matter what the temperature. If you know someone who keeps their pet outside and you are concerned about the animal’s welfare, please call our Humane Officer.

SHELTER
An outside pet should have a well insulated shelter, that is shielded from wind, moisture and cold. Outdoor dogs should be protected by a dry, draft-free doghouse that is large enough to allow the dog to sit and lie down comfortably, but small enough to hold in his/her body heat. Bigger is not better! The house needs to be small enough to trap and hold the pet’s body heat which will help keep him warm through the night. Position the opening to face away from the direction in which the wind, rain or snow usually enters. The doorway should be covered with a flap of heavy waterproof fabric or heavy plastic. If you see outside pets, try to determine that they are comfortable and can get into and out of their housing easily.

FLOOR
A doghouse floor should be raised a few inches off the cold and drafty ground. The floor can be elevated by placing the doghouse on a low platform or on bricks or pieces of wood. Elevating the doghouse will also help to prevent rain from entering the doghouse.

BEDDING
Straw, hay or cedar shavings are good insulators and work best as dry, clean bedding materials. They allow moisture to evaporate, retain warmth and are biodegradable. However, shavings can be irritating to the skin, so use with caution depending upon your pet’s hair coat. Buy straw or hay that smells fresh and pleasant like dried grass clippings. Avoid any hay that smells strongly of mold or mildew. Spread the bedding generously in the doghouse, four to five inches thick and replace as needed. Dogs can drag a lot of moisture onto their bedding from every trip outside in the rain or snow. Blankets and quilts are alright for people inside heated homes but outside, they trap moisture than can make dogs damp, chilly and uncomfortable. Bedding should be changed as frequently as necessary or placed in the dryer for a warm-up. Several pet and feed stores carry safe heated floor mats or non-electric warm bedding.

FOOD AND WATER
Animals need fresh water available to them at all times, but especially during winter and summer when their bodies are vulnerable to dehydration. Indoor dogs may require more water to combat dry winter air.

DISHES
Metal bowls conduct and lose heat quickly so switching to a heavy plastic dish might help. In addition, when the temperature is low, your pet’s tongue can stick and freeze to metal. Dark colored dishes absorb heat from the sun and a deeper dish will freeze less quickly than a wide, shallow one. Heated stainless steel or plastic pet bowls are a solution for cold temperatures and are available at many pet supply stores. Check for and remove ice formation from outside dishes.

EATING HABITS
Keeping warm depletes energy! Animals tend to eat more during cold weather because staying warm requires extra calories. Your pet may require an additional 10 to 15 percent more nutritional intake (food/calories) to generate enough energy to ward off the cold. Increasing your dog’s supply of food, particularly protein, will help keep him and his fur in tip-top shape. Your veterinarian might suggest a change in diet to maintain body heat during cold weather and for energy.

ARTHRITIS AND WINTER
Cold, damp weather can aggravate arthritis. Although arthritis is most common in middle aged and older pets, it can also appear in young pets. A fracture can also make the bone susceptible to arthritis after the injury is healed. Overweight pets suffer from arthritis more than their normal-weight counterparts. If your pet is having trouble getting up or laying down, navigating stairs, cries or snaps when picked up, consult a veterinarian. Never medicate your pet with human prescription or over-the-counter medications without consulting your veterinarian first.

ANTI-FREEEZE
Anti-freeze is extremely toxic and can be lethal to dogs, cats and children. When ingested by animals, it is rapidly absorbed (initial signs appear approximately one hour after ingestion). Unfortunately, it smells good and the sweet taste attracts animals. Pets will lap it up if they find even a few drops on the driveway or garage floor. If a cat walks through anti-freeze then licks its paws, it can ingest enough to cause serious damage to the cat’s kidneys. One-half teaspoon of anti-freeze per pound of dog body weight is enough to cause the clinical signs of poisoning.

SIGNS/SYMPTOMS
The signs of anti-freeze poisoning are depression, lack of coordination, stumbling, vomiting and diarrhea, increased thirst, and seizures. The poison attacks the nervous system and the kidneys. The poison can be fatal if the kidneys are damaged. If the kidneys shut down the animal is unable to produce urine. This type of kidney failure usually happens 12-24 hours after ingestion in cats and 36-72 hours after ingestion in dogs. Success of treatment is dependent upon quick treatment. If you suspect your pet has ingested anti-freeze, call your veterinarian immediately. There is an anti-dote available, but time is of the essence.

PRECAUTIONS
Do not dispose of anti-freeze by pouring it into the gutter where stray animals could drink. The toxic ingredient in most anti-freeze is ethylene glycol. Products made with propylene glycol (rather than ethylene glycol) are more animal friendly and less toxic. Although propylene glycol is safer, it is still toxic. It does not attack the kidneys but it does affect the nervous system and may cause lack of coordination and seizures. To protect your pets, thoroughly clean up any spill from your vehicle, tightly cap the container and store antifreeze and coolants out of reach of children.