Plan now to prepare pets for cold weather

Winter can be a tricky time for your pets, but a bit of common sense can go a long way to keeping them safe and happy through the long cold months.

Dogs should always be kept on a lead when walked anywhere near frozen ponds or rivers for fear of falling through thin ice and, as they can easily become didorientated in snow, make sure that always wear a collar and ID tag and are microchipped.
Wipe-off your dog’s feet and underside after a walk in bad weather.
Road salt as well as toxic antifreeze and other toxic chemicals can be easily ingested by dogs and cats licking their feet.
Because it has a sweet taste, dogs and cats often mistake antifreeze for a treat and lap it up; but the chemicals can lead to death by kidney failure in most cases of antifreeze ingestion.
Check between your dog’s toes, tail and ears for ice crystals after every walk too as this can cause painful sores and bleeding.
Never leave your pet alone in the car in cold weather as your vehicle can quickly convert into a huge metal refrigerator in very cold temperatures. A dog left in a car in these temperatures has essentially been left to freeze to death.
Dogs spending a lot of time outside may benefit from some extra food to compensate for the calories used in keeping warm. Dogs kennelled outside should be brought inside on very cold nights.
So many cats are run-over and killed, or get lost in the dark winter months so make sure they’re also chipped and fitted with an easy-release reflective collar.
Some outdoor cats have been known to fall fast-asleep under a car bonnet on a toasty warm engine – so it is always a good idea to bang loudly on the bonnet of any car parked outside before starting it, to give any cats a chance to escape!
You also need to consider your small furry friends in winter too.
Rabbits and guinea pigs should be given plenty of dry hay, and if the weather is really severe, brought inside at night. Their hutches should face away from the wind and be waterproof, because both species are very susceptible to damp conditions and can develop fatal pneumonia.