During the cold winter months, pet owners face myriad new challenges to keep their furry friends safe, warm, and comfortable. You need to be aware of the hazards cold weather poses to your pet, so you can take precautions to prevent a weather-related veterinary emergency. Our team at Oriole Road Animal Hospital shares six cold weather pet safety hazards to help you protect your pet all winter. 

Pet hazard #1: Frostbite

Frostbite, which also affects people, is a painful medical condition that causes blood vessels to constrict, redirecting the extremities’ blood to warm and protect vital organs, including the brain, lungs, and heart. As a result, your pet’s tail, nose, ears, and paws are most susceptible to frostbite. If your pet has frostbite signs, contact our veterinary team to determine if your four-legged friend requires treatment and medication to control pain or prevent infection. Although rarely life-threatening, frostbite is often a precursor to hypothermia, which can be deadly. Frostbite signs include:

  • Brittle or shriveled skin that stays cold to the touch
  • Skin that is initially pale or bluish-white, eventually becoming red and puffy
  • Red or grey-tinged skin on the ears, tail, or nose
  • Ears, tail, paws, or nose painful to the touch
  • Ice crystals in or around the nose

Pet hazard #2: Hypothermia

A pet may experience hypothermia (i.e., body temperature lower than 99 degrees) if they are exposed to cold temperatures for a lengthy time. Each pet has their own cold-tolerance level, which influences the exposure time frame and temperature level that causes them to develop this condition. Outdoor temperatures lower than 45 degrees can begin to affect cold-sensitive pets, and if the numbers dip below the freezing point, they affect all pets, with wind and moisture increasing the danger. When outdoors with your pet, keep a close eye on them and head inside if they exhibit the following early hypothermia signs:

  • Shivering
  • Lethargy
  • Muscle stiffness
  • Pale gums
  • Confusion

If hypothermia progresses, your pet may stop shivering, collapse, develop slow and irregular breathing and heart rates, become comatose, or die. If your pet exhibits hypothermia signs, immediately take them inside and bring their temperature back to normal by wrapping them in warm—not hot—towels and blankets fresh from the dryer. You can also place warm water bottles near body areas that have less fur (e.g., the groin), keeping a layer of fabric between the heat source and your pet’s skin. Avoid trying to warm your pet by using a heating pad, because the product can become too warm or burn your pet.

Pet hazard #3: Chemical burns and cracked paw pads

Your pet’s feet can chap, crack, or bleed, thanks to snow, slush, and deicing chemicals. Because pets don’t typically wear shoes, the harsh conditions can ravage delicate paws, so consider a pair of pet booties if you and your pet will be spending time outside in cold conditions. A good rule of thumb—if it is too cold outside for you, it is too cold for your pet. 

Pet hazard #4: Antifreeze toxicity

Ethylene glycol, a compound in most antifreeze preparations, is extremely toxic to pets. Even if your pet only ingests a small amount of this sweet-tasting fluid, they can develop acute (i.e., sudden) kidney failure. Sadly, the condition is fatal without immediate and aggressive treatment. Store antifreeze and other products that commonly contain ethylene glycol (e.g., motor oil, windshield deicer, hydraulic brake fluid) out of your pet’s reach and clean up spills immediately.

Pet hazard #5: Frozen bodies of water

Frozen lakes, ponds, and other bodies of water can be dangerous for you and your pet. Falling through ice can cause hypothermia, organ damage, or drowning, while ice can cut skin, cause ice burn or frostbite, and serious injuries if you or your pet slips or falls. Avoid these frosty hazards by using a nonretractable leash around ice-covered bodies of water to prevent your pet from roaming to unsafe areas. 

Pet hazard #6: Cold cars

You know just how dangerous leaving a pet in a hot car can be, but that danger isn’t limited to summertime and hot weather. A car’s interior temperature can quickly become dangerously cold during the winter, so never leave your pet unattended in your car, regardless of the season.

If your furry pal experiences a cold weather mishap, contact our Oriole Road Animal Hospital team for help.