Volume 13, Issue 02
The PEACEKEEPER
Page 11
The Dog Kennel
PETS continued from pg. 10
Pet Winter Safety: 4 Tips for When the Temperature Drops con nued…
"Cats can be poisoned by very small amounts," McGeorge tells WebMD. For example, a cat can be poisoned
just by walking through spilled an freeze and then licking its paws during cleaning. If you suspect your cat or dog has
been exposed to an freeze, don't wait to see if it acts sick, McGeorge says. Take it to a veterinarian for treatment
immediately.
To avoid an freeze exposure:
Be sure all an freeze containers are ghtly closed and put away on a high shelf.
Make sure your car is not leaking an freeze. "It takes a very small amount to make animals sick," Sonnenfield
says.
Tip # 3:
Walking pets in winter? Get reflec ve. During winter's darker days and longer nights, pets can be hard
to see. That's why Sonnenfield recommends reflec ve collars. Some message board members also give a thumbs up
to collars, tags, and leashes embedded with LED lights and blinkers.
Tip # 4:
Keep your pet safe during the holidays. Winter holidays bring fun and family, but they also invite expo‐
sure to items poten ally toxic or dangerous to your pet. Sonnenfield recommends keeping pets away from choco‐
late, plants, holly berries and leaves, and nsel. Call the Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426‐4435 or your vet
right away if you think your pet has eaten something dangerous.
Dogs and Cold Weather: Preparing a Warm Space for Your Dog
For a pooch that spends a lot of me outside, you'll need to take the same steps to protect your dog in cold
weather as those taken for an outdoor‐only cat, including:
Making sure your dog has warm, dry, dra ‐free, covered shelter, preferably in a garage, shed, or beneath a
carport or porch awning.
Warming that shelter with bedding you check daily ‐‐ wet bedding can be fatal to a pet. Look into purchasing
electric hea ng products specifically made for a dog's use.
Being sure that fresh, unfrozen water is available to your dog every day. You can find inexpensive warmers to
keep your pet's water from freezing.
Providing your dog plenty of food; pets need even more calories in the winter to help them keep warm.
Always bring your dog inside when the temperatures turn par cularly harsh, the pros say. "If you wouldn't
want to