News You Can Use
How Cold Weather Affects Your Pets by Cheyenne Pratt , Veterinary Technician , Calico Creek Veterinary Clinic
You may think because cats and dogs have fur they can tolerate cold weather better than us , but that is not the case . Cold weather can be just as harmful to pets as it is to people . Like us , animals that stay outside in below freezing ( -32 degrees F ) temperatures for an extended period of time are at risk for frostbite and hypothermia . Cold weather can also worsen certain pre-existing medical conditions that your pet may have , like arthritis . Pets with other health issues , such as heart or kidney disease , have difficulty regulating their body temperature , so they should not be subject to extreme temperatures , hot or cold . The same goes for very young and very old pets .
There are different factors that determine a pet ' s tolerance to cold . The amount of body fat on the animal , type of hair coat , activity level , and overall health , all play a part in how well it can tolerate cold weather . Pets that have thick coats or long hair tend to tolerate cold better than those with shorter hair . Pets with short legs may get colder quicker than pets with longer legs because their bellies may touch the snow covered ground . Dogs like Siberian Huskies , Alaskan Malamutes , Akitas ( just to name a few ) were bred specifically for cold weather climates , but still should not be left outside in frigid temperatures for long periods of time .
We know that it ' s not safe to leave pets in the car in the summer , and the same is true for winter . A cold car basically becomes a refrigerator and an animal left inside will have a drastic drop in body temperature . It ' s best to leave your pet at home or limit traveling in the car when it ' s extremely cold outside . Hypothermia signs include shivering , whining , acting anxious , weakness , slowing down , or stopping moving .
Frostbite is harder to detect because the damage it causes may not be noticed until days later . It mainly affects the paws , nose , and ears . Frostbitten skin will be discolored , often painful and brittle when touched . Swelling or blisters may occur . If your pet has been exposed to freezing temps and you suspect frostbite or hypothermia , contact a veterinarian right away .
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Pawsitively Pets -- December
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News You Can Use
Recalls :
Answers Pet Food , Pennsylvania : Recalling certain
lots of Answers Detailed Beef Formula for Dogs , Answers Straight Beef Formula for Dogs , and Answers Straight Chicken Formula for Dogs , after samples collected by the U . S . Food and Drug Administration were reported to have tested positive for the presence of Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes . Info : 1-800-431-8480 . ( 9 / 22 / 24 )
Darwin ' s Natural Selections Pet Food , Washington :
The U . S . FDA is cautioning pet owners that samples of five of Darwin ’ s Natural Pet Products raw cat and dog food made by Arrow Reliance , Inc . tested positive for Salmonella , and a sixth FDA sample tested positive for Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes . Affected products are certain lots of Darwin ’ s Natural Selections Antibiotic & Grain-Free Chicken Recipe for Cats and Darwin ’ s Natural Selections Antibiotic & Grain-Free Chicken . Recipe for Dogs . Darwin ' s response is available on their website - darwinspet . com . Info : 877-738-6325 . 9 / 20 / 24 )
Viva , North Carolina : Recalling one lot of Viva Turkey For Dogs , Viva Beef & Turkey For Puppies , Viva Turkey For Dogs ( Ground ), Viva Turkey For Dogs ( Chunked ), and Viva Turkey For Cats , due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination . Info : 919-371-8882 Monday-Friday , 9am-5pm EST . ( 7 / 2 / 24 )
Source : dogfoodadvisor . com , amva . org
Calico Creek Veterinary Clinic Dogs - Cats - Ferrets - Pocket Pets
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