How to keep pets safe in the winter

Tips on how to keep pets safe in the cold

This winter, with another so-called Beast from the East forecast to take hold in the coming weeks, animal charities are urging people to take good care of their pets.

People often assume that animals’ furry coats will give them extra protection during harsh winter months but, in reality, they can struggle to keep warm. Prevention is better than cure, so keeping an eye on your pet’s weight and behavior could help indicate if there are any issues that have been brought on by the changes in weather.

To ensure all pet owners understand the various seasonal threats posed to our furry friends, MSD Animal Health veterinary surgeon Hannah Newbury, Dr Jane Tyson, the RSPCA’s Rabbit Welfare expert and Richard Saunders of the Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund (RWAF) share their top tips on how to care for pets this winter.

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1) Protect your dogs’ paws

Chemicals used to melt snow and ice, along with grit and mud, can be very irritating to your dog’s paw pads, and if left unwashed can cause a burning sensation which you’ll notice will leave your dog gnawing at its paws. Therefore, it is essential to regularly bathe paws after a cold winter walk to remove these irritants along with any bugs or bacteria that can easily get in to the skin causing further problems at this time of year.

2) Lock away the anti-freeze

Cats are often attracted to anti-freeze because it's said to possess a sweet taste. However, exposure to anti-freeze, particularly for cats, is exceptionally dangerous and in some circumstances can cause kidney failure and death. If your cat starts to display any signs of ill health including sudden weight loss, diarrhoea and vomiting, pay an immediate visit to your vet.

3) Be mindful of the risk of hypothermia

Although it differs between breeds and ages, pets can suffer from hypothermia too, so be mindful of the amount of time your pet spends outdoors and how active it is during freezing temperatures. If you notice that your dog has pale gums and pale inner eyelids, these are two signs that your pet could be suffering from hypothermia.

Ensure your pet is kept warm in cold weather and if you suspect they have become too cold, speak to your veterinary practice and treat your pet as you would a human, by feeding them warm liquids and wrapping them in warm blankets.

4) Ensure your pets are up-to-date with tick and flea treatments

Despite us often thinking fleas are more of a problem in summer, due to warmer winter temperatures and central heating, there is still a risk that your pet can catch fleas all year round. Therefore, practicing continual year-round flea protection is key to not only keeping your pet healthy but also to avoid any flea infestations in the home throughout winter.

5) Keep an eye on food consumption

Making sure your pet maintains a healthy weight throughout the winter is also very important. While it’s often true that an extra layer can help protect pets from the cold, this should come from a coat and not an additional layer of fat. Cold temperatures can sometimes prompt lazy behaviour and therefore the need for fewer calories. However, at the same time, you should also be monitoring your pet for any signs of unusual weight loss too. If you have any concerns about your pet’s weight, be it either weight gain or loss, then speak to your veterinary practice team for further advice.

6) Rabbits are at an increased risk

Last winter, between December 2017 and March 2018, the RSCPA had 1,197 complaints to their cruelty line about rabbits. Dr Jane Tyson, the RSPCA’s Rabbit Welfare Expert, says, “If the temperature plummets, owners should consider bringing outdoor rabbits inside, into an outhouse, shed or unused garage with windows. If kept outside, they need warm, dry shelter with extra bedding to snuggle into. Continual access to hay to eat and fresh water to drink is vital."

7) Don’t keep pets outside

Perhaps the vision of pets being kept outside in kennels is confined to Tom and Jerry cartoons. However, if your pet does sleep outside, it is probably a good idea to bring them in during the winter. Cats often roam the streets at night but during the cold winter months you should ensure you have a cat flap so they can get back in easily or they are permanently kept toasty inside.

In the case of rabbits - “Rainproof covers can be bought to help insulate hutches, but care must be taken to ensure there is adequate ventilation.” The Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund (RWAF) which campaigns for better conditions for rabbits, urges owners to be aware of signs that rabbits may be feeling the chill.

Richard Saunders, veterinary advisor for RWAF, says, “Weight loss and respiratory problems are signs that your rabbit is struggling to maintain body temperature, and if they’re cold and miserable, they may stop eating. Rabbits can survive in temperatures as low as 5˚C, but when it gets colder, extra care is needed to avoid critical conditions such as hypothermia.”

8) Remember pets are for life

Everyone knows the slogan – ‘A dog is for life, not just for Christmas’. Now Christmas has been and gone, it is still important to remember this message counts for animals of all shapes and sizes.

Rabbits are often bought for children as they’re seen as an easy “first pet”, but they can end up spending their lives alone and forgotten in a cramped hutch at the bottom of the garden. Rabbits were originally kept in small hutches before being slaughtered for meat – but sadly, the tradition has stuck.

Now the neglect has become so widespread that last year, Pets At Home stopped selling rabbits over the Easter weekend, instead offering customers free workshops, teaching owners how to look after their animals responsibly.

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For more information on rabbit welfare visit the RWAF and for effective tick and flea prevention, please visit [MSD Health Hub Big Flea Project](www.msd-animal-health-hub.co.uk/Big-Flea-Project-Project ).

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