Keep pets warm and safe during the winter
NEW GLASGOW, N.S. — We’ve yet to suffer through a deep freeze this winter, but we know the days are coming.
And our furry friends will be grateful if they’re kept warm and cozy while we slog through another winter.
“If it’s too cold for you to be outside, it’s too cold for your pets to be outside for any period of time,” said Dr. Jessica Muir, a veterinarian at the East River Animal Hospital in New Glasgow.
She said motor vehicle owners should also be mindful of spilling anti-freeze when putting it in their car or truck. She recommends that if a spill does happen, vehicle owners should be diligent in cleaning it up.
“Even a small amount can cause kidney failure,” she said. “Animals really like the taste of it because it’s sweet.”
A chief inspector with the SPCA of Nova Scotia said there are many ways an animal can be neglected under the law, and the SPCA’s approach will be specific to the situation and the species.
“It is always our approach to gain compliance through education,” said special constable Jo-Ann Landsburg. “This has been and will always be our first approach to any situation that is not of a critical nature. If we find any companion animal in distress and the owner is not present or capable of relieving the distress, we will do what is best for the animal and that may mean seizing it to alleviate the distress.”
OTHER HELPFUL TIPS FROM DR. MUIR
■ If a dog or cat is kept outside for a length of time, ensure they are sheltered, with straw used for insulation. “As long as they’re not getting wet,” Dr. Muir said. “That’s the big thing.”
■ If the animal doesn’t mind, protective booties are helpful for your animals if they’re taken outside.
■ If booties are a no-go, it’s important to wipe the pads of their feet and between their toes when they come in from the outside, to make sure they don’t get cracked.
■ Even in winter, be mindful that animals can get ticks and fleas if the temperature goes above freezing for even a few hours.