Cold Weather Dangers For Your Pet

Cold Weather Dangers in Braselton GA

Cold weather can be dangerous for your animal friend, especially for animals who spend the majority of their time outdoors. Pets left out in the cold can experience hypothermia and even death. As a pet owner, it’s important to know how to protect your dog or cat from these dangers.

Know the Signs of Hypothermia

Hypothermia is a condition that can affect pets who have been exposed to air that is too cold for too long. Signs of hypothermia include:

• Slow breathing
• Muscle stiffness
• Shallow breathing
• Low blood pressure
• Lack of awareness

Pay close attention to your pet when he or she is spending significant amounts of time outdoors. Watch for these symptoms and contact your pet’s emergency care veterinarian if your pet shows signs of trouble.

Take Precautions to Protect Your Pet

There are many things you can do to protect your pet from hypothermia. Among them:

• Watch the weather forecast. Check the weather predictions on a regular basis. Know when the temperature outside will drop, so you can bring your pet indoors if the temperature becomes dangerously low.
• Fortify your pet’s shelter. If your pet is an outdoor pet, he or she should still have a shelter for safe retreat. Check and fortify your pet’s shelter to ensure that it is dry and warm.
• Prepare a space indoors. Outdoor pets may need to be brought indoors if the temperature is unsafe. If you plan to keep your pet in the garage or basement, prepare the area first. Put up chemicals like antifreeze to prevent your pet from ingesting a toxin.
• Ensure your pet has access to food and water. If the temperature outside drops below 32, your pet’s outdoor water and food dish can freeze. Invest in heated bowls to ensure that your pet has access to food and water when he or she needs it.

How Cold is Too Cold?

One of the common questions that pet owners ask is, how cold is too cold for pets? This depends on many things, including the size of your pet, the quality of his or her outdoor shelter, how long the pet is staying outdoors and other factors. Smaller and older pets may be more vulnerable to cold weather than larger and middle age pets. To find out how cold is too cold for your pet, contact your pet’s veterinarian.

Contact Your Pet’s Vet for Emergency Care

As your pet’s emergency vet in Braselton GA, we can help your pet if he or she suffers from hypothermia and other dangerous conditions this winter. Keep our phone number in your contacts and on your refrigerator. Don’t hesitate to call us at (470) 203-2011 in the event of a medical emergency.