Pet Chatter

(Pet Chatter is a new Endeavor News column by Lori Hansen, a lifelong pet companion and animal lover and activist. Suggestions for future columns can be sent to design@zitomedia.net.)

Cold weather has arrived and it's important to protect your pets. Animals are affected by the cold weather, particularly when the temperature or windchill drops below freezing. Below is part one of "Winter Pet Tips":

During the winter months, pets should spend the majority of their time indoors, except during periods of supervised exercise. Pets that are very old, very young or have extremely short hair are particularly susceptible to frostbite and hypothermia. They should have limited time outdoors during cooler weather even when the temperature is above freezing.

If you notice your dog is chilled during outside time, consider a sweater or coat (you could try this with a cat, but if your cats are anything like mine, it won't work). Pet clothes are becoming more readily available and affordable. Be sure your dog is comfortable and can move without difficulty. Clothing can get caught on anything from a bush to a fence and trap your pet. Finally, watch your pet for signs of distress when exercising and shorten exercise time if necessary.

Keep ice and snow from collecting on paws. If your pet walks in an area where any substance has been used to melt ice, wipe off all four paws as soon as possible and clean paws completely when you return inside.

If you absolutely must leave your pet outside during the cold weather, there's a few things to remember: be sure to provide shelter that's dry and draft-free with a door that faces away from the direction the wind normally blows (windchill is actually more dangerous to your pet than the low temperatures); cover the doorway with a flap of canvas, rubber or burlap; the floor of the shelter should be raised off the ground by a few inches; the shelter should be large enough for the animal to stand or lie down comfortably but no bigger so the pet's body heat will warm it; be sure the pet has blankets or straw to lie in; use plastic rather than metal food and water dishes (remember sticking your tongue to a metal pole when you were a kid?) and change water regularly to prevent freezing; increase your outdoor pets' food rations, as staying warm requires more energy; and, if temperatures drop below zero, find a place indoors for your pet, even if it's a garage or basement.

More winter pet tips next time! Until then, protect those you love - even those with fur, fins, feathers or scales.