Cold Weather fur facts DC While the US east coast is bracing for a winter storm which is expected to drop up to 8 inches of snow this weekend, pet owners are warned to bring their pets inside. Many owners do not do so because they believe these common myths:
Myth: Dogs and cats can fend for themselves in winter weather. Nothing could be further from the truth. The sad fact is that during winter many animal shelters are forced to euthanize cats suffering from irreparable frost bite of their ears and noses. [Chilling not healthy for pets, Journal World]
'The skin on an animal can freeze in as little as 20 minutes in sub-zero temperatures, according to local veterinarians and animal-care experts.
Veterinarians at the North Shore Animal Hospital on Neptune Boulevard in Lynn said animals should not be outside for more than 10 minutes in temperatures below 20 degrees...' [Fur Factor, Daily Item of Lynn]
Myth: Long-haired dogs can be left safely outside in frigid weather. Truth: even a heavy coated dog can freeze to death, especially if its coat gets wet. If the dog doesn't freeze to death, it can sustain frostbite and suffer if it has pre-existing arthritis. 'No pet should be left outside in temperatures below 40 degrees. Short-coated breeds and small dogs should be supplemented with a coat or a sweater. Outdoor breeds such as huskies and malamutes need warm shelter from the wind and cold as well as a source of unfrozen water...' [Cold weather related illness and your pet, Telegraph Online]
Myth: dogs don't need water outside and can be fed water only at night. While it's true that water freezes quickly in 20 degree weather, that doesn't mean animals don't require it. Dogs and cats become more easily dehydrated in frigid weather. "Any dogs left out in this winter should have food and water and a shelter that keeps them dry. Water is difficult to supply to outside animals in the cold weather. A special effort has to be made to make sure it is at least available three times a day." [Wild weather brings warnings, Beloit Daily News]
Myth: dogs and cats can stay warm and alone in a car during cold weather. If the car's heater is running, yes... but it wouldn't be safe to leave the car running with animals alone in it. Cars become virtual freezers in freezing weather. [Pets and animals in distress, ]
Truth: extreme weather requires extra precautions with pets, even so-called outdoor pets. "This is extreme. This isn't normal. We just have to take the measures, for animals that stay outside, to make them comfortable..." Vicki Davis, executive director of the Tri-County Humane Society [Low temperatures pose dangers for pets, St. Cloud Times]
Myth: someone else will take care of that freezing pet you spotted outside. It's not your problem and it's okay to ignore an animal who can't speak for itself. If you see a pet freezing in the cold, ask its caretaker to bring it inside and provide it a warm home. Most people care about their pets and would never intentionally allow them to die in the cold...
Pets on Wheels!
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