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Posts Tagged ‘tips’

Cold Weather Care

January 29th, 2019

Cold Weather Safety Tips For Your Pets

 

Don’t forget to keep your furry friends warm and cozy this winter!  Here are a few helpful tips from Rescue Village to make sure the animals in your life stay safe and snuggly all through the winter months!

  • Bundle up! Create a cozy spot for them inside using bedding or blankets. Make sure it is away from drafty areas of your home. See if your pet will wear sweaters, coats, and/or booties when going outside! Not only will they be more comfortable, they will also look pretty adorable.
  • Puppy Pawdicures: If they have longer fur, you can reduce the amount of snow that collects between your pet’s toes by clipping the fur between toe pads. Also, be sure to rinse your pet’s paws with warm water and wipe them dry each time they come inside. Make sure wherever you are putting down salt, that it is the pet-safe kind.
  • Hey, More HAY! Make sure to have plenty of hay to eat and bedding for extra warmth for all of your barn critters! They will greatly appreciate a little extra lining in their stalls and in their bellies. Some of the adoptable pigs at Rescue Village really enjoy snuggling under big thick comforters and blankets that we place in their stalls.
  • Fresh never frozen: Make sure all of your animals have lots of fresh water (liquid not frozen) to drink, especially if they are outdoor animals. Use deeper containers and change the water frequently. If you are feeding an outdoor cat and can keep it from freezing, give it wet food. It is easier for them to digest so they can save more energy for keeping warm!
  • Pop your hood: Before starting your car, give the hood a tap and check between the tires. Believe it or not, cats will sometimes crawl into the engine or hide underneath the car for warmth.
  • Don’t forget the neighborhood stray! Stray cats need extra winter warmth too! Make a homemade cozy cat shelter by cutting a hole in a plastic container and a hole in a foam cooler, lining them with lots of hay for insulation, placing the cooler inside of the container and covering the container with its lid (See more detailed instructions here). While you’re at it don’t forget to check the stray cat for an ear tip and bring it into Rescue Village on a TNR day if it doesn’t have one!
  • When in doubt, keep them inside. Whenever possible, if the temperatures drop, keep your pets inside as much as possible. Quick poddy breaks if they have to go outside and then right back into the warmth! If you have an indoor/outdoor kitty, make sure to get them back inside until the temperatures go back up again. Remember, if it’s too cold for you, it’s probably too cold for them!

If you see an animal outside with no access to shelter at a time when you think it might be unsafe for them, please do not hesitate to contact our Humane Agent and report the situation. Stay safe and warm everyone!

Cold Weather Safety Tips

October 19th, 2018

As the temperatures drop in Northeast Ohio, be sure to keep your pet safe and warm! Check out some of these helpful tips for the winter. Exposure to winter’s colder temperatures, dry air, and snowy weather can cause chapped paws and itchy, flaking skin. To help prevent these cold weather dangers, please read the following tips:

  • Keep the air from getting when they are inside. Make sure to keep your home humidified and towel dry your pet as soon as he or she comes inside. This will help to prevent itchy, flakey skin as the air outside becomes dry in the winter. Also, pay special attention to feet and in between their toes and make sure to remove any snow balls from in between the toes.
  • Keep them warm! Never shave your dog’s (or cat’s) fur in the winter. Longer coats provide more warmth. If your dog is long-haired, you can trim the fur to prevent clinging ice balls. Make sure to trim the hair between their toes too! For dogs with shorter hair, consider getting him or her a coat or a sweater for more warmth when they are outside.
  • Bathe your pets as little as possible during the winter. Washing too often can remove the essential oils and increase the chances of dry, flaky skin. If they absolutely need to be bathed, find a moisturizing shampoo or rinse.
  • Keep their paws from cracking. Massaging petroleum jelly or other paw protectants into the paw pads before going outside can help prevent from salt and chemical agents. Booties provide even more coverage and can also prevent salt and chemicals from getting stuck in between their toes and causing irritation. Use pet-friendly ice melts on your own property whenever possible.
  • Keep chemicals where they can’t get to them. Antifreeze is a lethal poison for both dogs and cats. Thoroughly clean any spills from your vehicle.
  • Feed them more. Pets burn extra energy by trying to stay warm in the wintertime. Feeding them a bit more during cold weather months can provide the extra calories they need.
  • Provide shelter! Make sure your pet has a warm place to sleep. If you have an outdoor cat, consider making or buying them a special shelter. Inside pets should have a warm place to sleep off of the floor and away from drafts. A cozy dog or cat bed is a great option!
  • If it’s too cold for you, it’s too cold for your pet! Keep them inside. If left outdoors for too long, pets can freeze, become disoriented, injured, or even killed. Don’t leave cars alone in a car during winter months either! They can act as refrigerators that hold in the cold and can even cause animals to freeze to death.