Although they can’t ask for hot cocoa or an ice water on a hot day, the furry members of our families can suffer just as much from the weather as we do. A dog’s paws can suffer on both cold days in the depths of winter, and on the hot pavement of a blazing summer. Cats can suffer badly from cold, and are even at risk of sunburn and skin cancer. Learn how to ensure your pet’s safety with these cold weather tips for pets, and some advice for the summer months too.
In this excerpt from the book Household Magic by Joan and Lydia Wilen the authors explain what to look out for when caring for your pets in cold, hot, and stormy weather.
WEATHER
Humans are not the only creatures who suffer from extremes of heat or cold. You should be aware that weather conditions affect your pet. It’s important to keep your pet comfortable and happy—so here are some safeguards to help protect him/her in all types of weather.
CAUTION: Cats should not go outside when the temperature dips below 0ºF. Their ears have very little protective fur, and frostbite can set in very easily. Dogs should not go outside when it’s -10ºF or below. Then again, neither should you.
Cold-Weather Insulation
If your pet goes outside during the cold months, feed him 10% to 20% more food and supplement his diet with healthy essential fatty acids (EFAs), such as flaxseed oil, black currant–seed oil, cod-liver oil (available at health-food stores) and olive oil. Dosage for a cat or a small dog is only about 1 ⁄8 teaspoon of oil daily. The EFAs along with the extra calories help pets build insulation against the cold.
White Cats and the Sun
White cats do not have protective pigment, so it’s important to keep them inside on sunny days when there is snow on the ground. The sun reflects off the snow and increases the cat’s risk of developing skin cancer.
Dogs Walking in Snow
Chemicals like rock salt, which is used to melt snow or make it less slippery, can irritate a dog’s paws. And what does he do? He licks his sore paws, ingesting those nasty chemicals, and that can make him sick.
You can prevent that from happening by protecting your dog’s paws before he goes out[1]side. Put small plastic sandwich bags over his paws, keeping them in place with rubber bands. If they’re too slippery (or if your dog simply won’t wear them), cover his paws with baby socks, also kept in place with rubber bands.
Clean Your Dog’s Unprotected Paws
If your dog went out in the snow without pro[1]tection, as soon as you both get home, wash his paws with a mixture of one tablespoon of baking soda and one cup of warm water. It will soothe the burning caused by the rock salt.
Prevent Stuck Pads
When your dog is going out in clean, pure, out in-the-country, unsalted snow, spray the bottom of his paws with nonstick vegetable spray so that the snow won’t get packed between his pads.
Soothe Winter Paws
Dry winter air and walking on snow and ice can cause a dog’s pads to become cracked and sore. Massage a little petroleum jelly into his pads and between the toes to soothe them.
The Calm During the Storm
If your dog or cat gets frightened during a thunderstorm, you can calm him down by pressing his Tin Yang acupressure point.
It’s located in the center of the forehead, a little higher than the eyes and a little lower than where the animal’s eyebrows would be—if he had eyebrows. Use your thumb to press that point for two minutes.
According to an acupressure practitioner, when an animal is frightened, his chi (life energy) becomes scattered. The Tin Yang point stimulation will distract him from his fear of the thunder by refocusing his life energy and replacing that fear with a wonderful sense of safety. This remedy may be used whenever your pet is in need of calming.
NOTE: You can find a certified veterinarian-acupuncturist by visiting IVAS.org, the website of the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society
To learn more about the benefits of acupressure for your pet, for training programs or to locate an acupressure practitioner, visit AnimalAcupressure.com.
Dog Days of Summer
During the summer, protect your dog from the sun’s strong rays. Keep him indoors or in the shade between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
If you do take him out in the sun for a long stretch of time between those hours, then ask your pet’s vet to recommend a nontoxic sunblock (SPF 15 or 30) to put on the tips of his ears, the top of his nose and around his mouth—any of the places where there’s hardly any protective fur.
CAUTION: If you have a molded-plastic pet carrier, DO NOT use it in hot weather. If you need to transport your pet in it, be aware that the heat inside can build up and present a real danger to your pet. To learn more tips for caring for your pets pick up your own copy of Household Magic by Joan and Lydia Wilen.
To learn more tips for caring for your pets, your home, and your family pick up your own copy of Household Magic by Joan and Lydia Wilen.
