Red Cross-- Extreme Cold- Keep Your Pets Safe and Healthy

Monday, February 16, 2015

Best (and Safest) in Show

 

Puppy Preparedness: 9 Tips to Keep Your Pets Warm and Safe This Winter
By Matthew Hurst, American Red Cross Greater NY Region

If you’re like us, you’ve got puppies on your mind as New York City hosts the annual Westminster Dog Show this week! We’ll be watching along while the pups parade, strutting their stuff and wagging their tails inside Madison Square Garden. The atmosphere inside will help distract us from the bitter cold outside that has been sweeping through New York this winter. The dogs on stage also remind us that for pets to look their best they need protection from the harsh winter conditions outside and they need to be as prepared as possible for the unexpected.

So what can you do to protect and prepare your pets during the winter? Here are a few simple tips to keep them safe:

1. Bring your pets inside! It’s cold out there, and what’s bad for us is also bad for man’s best friend.

2. Be careful around space heaters! Space heaters pose many risks. Not only can they burn your pet, your pet can also knock them over and start a fire.

3. Be mindful of the paws! Salt and other chemicals used to melt snow and ice can irritate a pet’s paws. Wipe their paws with a damp towel before your pet licks them and irritates their mouth.

4. If pets cannot come indoors, keep them warm  in a dry, draft-free space large enough to allow them to sit and lie down, but small enough to keep them warm.

5. Dress your dog in style for winter weather and make sure they are wearing a collar or ID tag with their name and your cell phone number.

6. These days, there’s an app for everything, including keeping your dog safe. Download the Red Cross Pet First Aid app for iOS and Android smartphones. 

7. Love may be the best medicine, but if your doggy gets meds from the vet, be sure to keep some in supply in case you get snowed in this winter.

8. Be ready by keeping a preparedness kit for your pets all year long. It should include food, water, and any medications for your pets. A chew toy would also be a nice gesture.

9. And in case of an emergency evacuation, never leave your pet behind in the cold. Remember, if it’s not safe enough for you, it’s not safe enough for your pet. 

Want to learn more about how to keep your pets safe and healthy? Sign up for a Pet First Aid course. 

You like these photos? Check out the full series here. Thanks to our friends at Good Dog Therapy for sharing!