If you keep your pet’s water bowl outside in winter, make sure to trade out any metal bowls with a ceramic or plastic bowl, otherwise your pet’s tongue could get stuck to the metal.
Make sure you check your pets water supply; if the bowl is freezing over, your pet may face dehydration and injury. For most pets, you can buy a heated water bowl or bucket (for horses) that will keep the water from freezing.
Horses that have thinner coats usually need blankets during the winter. You need to make sure, however, that your horse’s skin is not being irritated or dried out by the blanket and that you continue to groom your horse in the winter months.
While the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) urges pet owners to keep their pets indoors during winter, a heated doghouse can be an alterative for protecting your pet from the outdoors. As a pet owner, you do need to make sure the doghouse is properly constructed and that you replace blankets and insulation when necessary.
Never leave your pet unattended in a vehicle during winter. According to the ASPCA, your car acts like a refrigerator keeping the cold air in which can cause your pet to freeze to death.
Puppies are great, but if you are planning on keeping your puppy as an outside pet, do not do it until the following winter. Puppies have thinner fur and are far more sensitive to cold weather than older dogs.
For more tips on keeping your pets safe, please visit the ASPCA or Humane Society
www.aspca.org
www.humanesociety.org
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