Keeping Dogs and Cats Safe During the Winter

Here are a few tips to review before the snow and freezing January and February weather kicks in.

Pet owners...just a few reminders for the winter:

-- Rock salt and ice melts can irritate and dry out your pet's feet. If they lick their toe pads, the salt and chemicals can also trigger stomach irritation or other dangerous reactions. To keep your pet safe, keep a spray bottle filled with water handy to spray your pet's feet when they come inside. Then wipe their paws to remove any residue.

-- In harsh temperatures (anything below 45 degrees Fahrenheit) keep your pets mostly indoors, except to take them out for walks/exercise or to go to the bathroom. Outdoor dogs should have an insulated dog house. Outdoor cats might hide inside your warm car engine. And use plastic bowls for outdoor feeding, not metal.

-- Antifreeze is sweet-tasting and deadly to pets. Clean up antifreeze spills immediately and watch for antifreeze leaks on your garage floor or in your driveway. If you get antifreeze on your shoes, take them off and clean them so that you don't track the liquid indoors.

-- Dry weather can leave animals with a stuffy nose. Over-the-counter saline drops and sprays can safely be given to dogs and cats to ease breathing. If you can hear your pet breathe through their nose, exposing them to steam heat can also be an easy fix.

(US News & World Report)