To keep your pets safe in cold weather, it is essential to remember that if it's too cold for you, it's too cold for them. Key precautions include limiting outdoor exposure, providing adequate shelter and clothing when necessary, and being mindful of common winter hazards like antifreeze and de-icing salts.
How Cold Is Too Cold For My Pet To Be Outside?
A pet's cold tolerance depends on their breed, size, age, coat, and overall health.
- Above 7℃ (45℉): Most pets are generally fine, though small, short-haired, elderly, or sick pets may start to feel uncomfortable.
- Below 0℃ (32℉): The risk of hypothermia and frostbite increases significantly. Outdoor time should be limited to short breaks for elimination.
- Below -6℃ (20℉): Potential for hypothermia and frostbite is high, even for cold-hardy breeds. All pets should have minimal outdoor exposure.
What Are The Warning Signs of Cold Exposure?
Watch for these signs that your pet is too cold and needs to come inside immediately:
- Shivering or shaking
- Hunched posture with a tucked tail
- Whining or barking
- Anxiety or reluctance to keep walking
- Lifting paws off the ground
- Lethargy or weakness
- Pale gums or skin
How Can I Protect My Pet's Paws?
Road salt, de-icing chemicals, and ice can injure your pet's paws.
- Booties: Provide the best protection against cold surfaces and chemical. Allow time for your pet to adjust to wearing them.
- Paw Balm/Vaseline: Apply a protective wax or balm to paw pads before walks if booties are not an option.
- Post-Walk Cleaning: Always wipe your pet's paws, legs, and belly with a damp towel after coming inside to remove any salt or chemicals.
- Trimming Fur: Keep the fur between paw pads trimmed to prevent painful ice balls from forming.
- Pet-Safe Products: Use pet-safe ice melts on your own property. "Safe Paw" brand is one example. (See Below)
Other Important Safety Tips
- Provide Warm Shelter: Ensure indoor pets have a warm sleeping area away from drafts. Outdoor pets must have an insulated, dry, elevated shelter
- Beware of antifreeze: Antifreeze is a lethal poison. Clean up spills immediately and store containers securely. Consider using products containing propylene glycol.
- Check Car Hoods: Cats and small animals may seek warmth near car engines. Bang on your vehicle's hood or honk the horn before starting it to scare them away.
- Never Leave Pets in Cars: Vehicles can act as refrigerators in winter, rapidly dropping to dangerous temperatures.
- Adjust Diet/Exercise: Pets that are highly active outdoors may need more calories, while less active indoor pets may need fewer. Ensure constant access to fresh unfrozen water.
Ice-Melting Salt Is Harmful to Pets
- Chemical Burns and Irritation: Some ice-melting products can cause chemical burns or irritation to the sensitive skin on your pet's paws. This can lead to skin redness, dryness, cracking, or even bleeding.
- Toxic Ingestion: When pets walk on salted surfaces, the salt and chemicals can stick to their paws. Pets often lick their paws to clean them, which means they ingest these substances. Ingestion of certain ice-melting salts can lead to gastrointestinal (GI) upset or more serious health issues.
- Dryness and Cracking: Salt and other ice-melting agents' abrasiveness can dry out the pads on your pet's paws, leading to cracking and discomfort.
- Always keep in mind the tips above for protecting your pet's paws.
How Cold Is Too Cold For My Pet To Be Outside?
A pet's cold tolerance depends on their breed, size, age, coat, and overall health.
- Above 7℃ (45℉): Most pets are generally fine, though small, short-haired, elderly, or sick pets may start to feel uncomfortable.
- Below 0℃ (32℉): The risk of hypothermia and frostbite increases significantly. Outdoor time should be limited to short breaks for elimination.
- Below -6℃ (20℉): Potential for hypothermia and frostbite is high, even for cold-hardy breeds. All pets should have minimal outdoor exposure.
What Are The Warning Signs of Cold Exposure?
Watch for these signs that your pet is too cold and needs to come inside immediately:
- Shivering or shaking
- Hunched posture with a tucked tail
- Whining or barking
- Anxiety or reluctance to keep walking
- Lifting paws off the ground
- Lethargy or weakness
- Pale gums or skin
How Can I Protect My Pet's Paws?
Road salt, de-icing chemicals, and ice can injure your pet's paws.
- Booties: Provide the best protection against cold surfaces and chemical. Allow time for your pet to adjust to wearing them.
- Paw Balm/Vaseline: Apply a protective wax or balm to paw pads before walks if booties are not an option.
- Post-Walk Cleaning: Always wipe your pet's paws, legs, and belly with a damp towel after coming inside to remove any salt or chemicals.
- Trimming Fur: Keep the fur between paw pads trimmed to prevent painful ice balls from forming.
- Pet-Safe Products: Use pet-safe ice melts on your own property. "Safe Paw" brand is one example. (See Below)
Other Important Safety Tips
- Provide Warm Shelter: Ensure indoor pets have a warm sleeping area away from drafts. Outdoor pets must have an insulated, dry, elevated shelter
- Beware of antifreeze: Antifreeze is a lethal poison. Clean up spills immediately and store containers securely. Consider using products containing propylene glycol.
- Check Car Hoods: Cats and small animals may seek warmth near car engines. Bang on your vehicle's hood or honk the horn before starting it to scare them away.
- Never Leave Pets in Cars: Vehicles can act as refrigerators in winter, rapidly dropping to dangerous temperatures.
- Adjust Diet/Exercise: Pets that are highly active outdoors may need more calories, while less active indoor pets may need fewer. Ensure constant access to fresh unfrozen water.
Ice-Melting Salt Is Harmful to Pets
- Chemical Burns and Irritation: Some ice-melting products can cause chemical burns or irritation to the sensitive skin on your pet's paws. This can lead to skin redness, dryness, cracking, or even bleeding.
- Toxic Ingestion: When pets walk on salted surfaces, the salt and chemicals can stick to their paws. Pets often lick their paws to clean them, which means they ingest these substances. Ingestion of certain ice-melting salts can lead to gastrointestinal (GI) upset or more serious health issues.
- Dryness and Cracking: Salt and other ice-melting agents' abrasiveness can dry out the pads on your pet's paws, leading to cracking and discomfort.
- Always keep in mind the tips above for protecting your pet's paws.