Wednesday, January 27, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Paw
Prints
Jodi Schneider
Columnist
Cold weather
safety for
your pets
This winter in Sisters
Country the temperatures
have been above normal,
but we may finally be
headed into colder weather.
It9s your job as a pet parent
to keep your furry friend
warm and safe. After all,
Rover can9t quite put on a
coat and scarf for his morn-
ing walk or tell you when
he wants to go indoors on a
blustery day.
Frigid weather can be
hard on pets, just like peo-
ple. It is important to pre-
pare your furry friend for
the cold weeks ahead.
It9s a misconception
that dogs are more resistant
than people to cold weather
because of their fur. Some
dogs are more susceptible
to the cold than others.
Short-coated, thin, elderly,
or very young dogs get cold
more quickly 4 so adjust
the amount of time they
stay outside. If your dog
enjoys being outdoors and
you will be outside longer
than a few minutes, con-
sider putting on a sweater
or coat to keep him warm.
Hypothermia and frostbite
pose major risks to dogs in
winter, so remember, if it9s
too cold for you, it9s prob-
ably too cold for your furry
friend!
So, how cold is too cold?
Dogs should be okay
until the temperature drops
to below 45 degrees. At
that point they may start to
<feel= cold depending on
their breed. At 32 degrees
small dogs, elderly dogs
and others with health con-
ditions should stay indoors.
Just as you bundle up for
cold weather, your pooch
will benefit from a winter
wardrobe.
If your pooch is whin-
ing, shivering, seems anx-
ious, slows down or stops
moving, get him back inside
very quickly because he is
showing signs of hypother-
mia. If you suspect frostbite,
seek veterinary attention.
During winter walks,
your dog9s paws can pick
up all kinds of toxic chemi-
cals 4 salt, antifreeze, or
de-icers. Be sure to wipe off
your dog9s paws when you
return from walks to prevent
him from licking it off and
becoming sick. Remember
to check for signs of injury,
such as cracked or bleeding
paw pads. Purchase pet-safe
de-icers for your home to
keep your furry friend safe.
Many pets become lost
in the winter due to snow
and ice, which can mask
smells and make it difficult
for animals to sniff their
way home. Make sure that
your pooch has ID tags and
a microchip with your up-
to-date information. Due
to Daylight Savings, some
people must walk their
dogs in the dark after work.
Keep yourself and your dog
safe by wearing reflective
gear (clothing, leash, and
collar) and keep your dog
close when walking on the
street.
Just as dogs can suffer
heatstroke in hot cars, cold
cars can also be deadly.
A car can act as a refrig-
erator in winter, holding in
the cold which can lead to
frostbite, hypothermia, and
death.
The use of rat and mouse
poisons increase this time of
year, as rodents seek shelter
from the cooler tempera-
tures by attempting to move
indoors. Rodenticides are
highly toxic to pets and if
ingested could be fatal. If
you must use these prod-
ucts, please do so with
extreme caution and put
Year-round
FIREWOOD
SALES
DON’T LET
SINK CHOICES
DRAIN YOU!
— Kindling —
—
—
SISTERS
FOREST PRODUCTS
We can help
you fi nd the
perfect fi t!
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260 N. Pine St., Sisters
541-410-4509
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Licensed
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CCB#87587
Always Active, Always Engaged,
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PHOTO BY JODI SCHNEIDER
A little extra work makes winter much safer and more comfortable for
your pet.
them in places inaccessible
to your pets.
Cats often sleep in the
wheel wells of cars during
the winter months to keep
warm. If you start your car
and a cat is sleeping on your
tire, it can be severely hurt
or even killed by moving
engine parts. Prevent inju-
ries by banging loudly on
your hood or honking the
horn before starting your
car. This will wake up the
cat and give her a chance to
escape before starting the
vehicle.
Winter can be a beauti-
ful time of year. It can be
dangerous as well 4 but
it doesn9t have to be. If
you take some precautions,
you and your furry friend
can have a fabulous time
dashing through the snow
together.
F
LL TODAY
E IN OR CA
OR YOUR
E
C
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U
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FREE I N ISON!
COMPAR
COM
541-588-6245
257 S. Pine St., #101 | farmersagent.com/jrybka
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