When the mercury plunges, exercise caution and limit your pet’s exposure to the outdoors.
- Take dogs for shorter, more frequent walks
- Consider bundling your dog in a sweater or coat
- Keep your cats safely indoors
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Cold Weather Tips for Pets
Just because animals have built in fur coats doesn’t mean they are immune to the harsh realities of a Canadian winter. With a bit of thoughtful planning, your best friend will be warm and safe when the snowflakes fly.
Here are some tips for animal care in cold weather:
When the mercury plunges, exercise caution and limit your pet’s exposure to the outdoors.
While the salt used on roads and driveways is helpful in preventing spills, it can irritate the sensitive pads on the bottom of your pet’s feet. Put boots on your dog during winter walks, or after a walk, wipe your dog's paws to remove salt, sand and other harmful substances.
If you keep any water bowls outside for your animals during the winter, be sure to check the supply a few times a day to ensure it isn’t frozen over. If you are unable to provide fresh, clean water regularly throughout the day you need to provide an insulated, heated water bowl in order to keep the water from freezing. Clean, fresh snow is not an adequate replacement for water for an animal.
Cats and wildlife are drawn to the heat generated by your car’s engine on cold days. Make sure you bang on your car’s hood to avoid injuring a sleeping creature.
Antifreeze is tasty to many animals, and they’ll readily consume it if given the chance. But even a small amount of antifreeze can be harmful, or even fatal, to your pet.
The winter season is a peak time for at-home parties and other get-togethers. It may be a good idea to keep animals away from the bustle and noise during a party. If everyone does mingle together, keep an eye on your pets to make sure they don’t sneak any of the festive food and drink.
Having an animal run away from home at any time of the year is troublesome, but especially during the winter season. Make sure your best friends are equipped with proper identification, including a collar, tag and microchip to ensure they have the best possible chance of finding their way back to you.
Dogs Die in Hot cars
When the thermometer soars, a parked car can quickly become a furnace, endangering an animal’s life, and making the owner liable to criminal charges.
Even on a relatively mild day, temperatures in parked cars can become dangerous in a matter of minutes. Opening or lowering the windows does little or nothing to slow this process.
With only hot air to breathe, a dog’s normal cooling process – panting – doesn’t work. A dog can withstand internal body temperatures of 40 C for only a few minutes before brain damage or death can occur. The older or more vulnerable the animal, the more susceptible they are to heatstroke or something worse.
What to do if you see an animal in a car
If you see an animal that may be suffering from heat exhaustion, and the owner can’t be quickly located, enlist the help of a parking attendant, security guard or nearby police officer, or call 911.
Information to collect when reporting
When calling to report an animal in a hot car, provide the following information:
What is the legislation involved?
It is against the law to leave a pet unattended in a parked vehicle in a manner that endangers the health or safety of the animal, as outlined in the Provincial Animal Welfare Services (PAWS) Act. Read more about the PAWS Act.
A hot car is no place for a pet. When it’s hot, keep your dog at home, with access to shade and lots of fresh water.
Summer Safety Tips for Pets
Here are a few other tips to keep your companion animals safe during hot weather:
If your pet spends lots of time outdoors, make sure there is adequate shelter for protection from the sun/heat. Outdoor kennels need to be well-ventilated and situated in shaded areas. Clean, fresh water must be accessible at all times.
On hotter days, monitor your pet’s activity and be careful to not over exert them. Watch for signs of heat stress, excessive panting, disorientation, staring or anxious expression and weakness. Bring your pet to a cool area, gradually lower your pet’s temperature by immersing his paws in cold water or hosing him down and call your veterinarian immediately.
When the heat and humidity rise, be especially careful with short-nosed dogs (pugs, bulldogs, etc.) and older animals. Exercise your pets in the early morning or late evening to avoid the midday heat.
In summer, asphalt can burn your pet’s paws – keep to the sidewalk or grass.
Shaving a hairy pet for the summer may seem like a good idea, but they can actually get a sunburn. Shave your pet at the beginning of the summer before it gets too hot.
Biking With Your Dog
Going for a bike ride with your dog might seem like a great way for some combined canine/human exercise. But just because you’re up for a workout, doesn’t mean your dog will be! Before you head out on the bike with Fido in tow, make sure you follow these tips to ensure the experience will be safe for both of you.
First, take your dog to your veterinarian make sure your dog is OK to come along for your exercise routine. It’s incredibly important that your dog be physically capable of keeping up with you and the bike.
Once you receive medical approval, you’ll want to ensure your dog has a proper harness and attachment for running alongside a bike. These attachments act like a shock absorber to help prevent injury to both you and your dog.
Now you’re ready to begin training! Start by walking the bike with your dog attached to it, until your dog is comfortable walking close to your bicycle.
Teaching your dog some basic commands is essential for safety. For example:
The next step is to ride the bicycle for short distances in a quiet, low-traffic area. Start slowly, and monitor your dog’s well-being. When you are confident your dog is ready and comfortable, you can start taking longer rides.
Remember: your dog may not necessarily stop running when tired. Many dogs, especially working dogs, continue to run past the point of exhaustion. All dogs are meant to roam and do not usually sprint for long periods. Maintain a pace slow enough that your dog is only cantering, rather than galloping alongside the bike.
Provide lots of breaks for water and rest and watch your dog for signs of exhaustion or heat exhaustion:
Be very careful when biking in warm weather. On a hot day, it doesn’t take long to cause heat exhaustion, stroke or even death. Lots of sunshine means pavement can quickly become hot and damage your dog’s feet. To avoid these risks, exercise your dog earlier in the morning or late in the evening. If it’s too hot, leave your dog at home.
Balcony Safety
Your apartment is a terrific home for your feline friend. High above the busy streets, your cat will be safe from speeding cars, dangerous diseases and cruel people. However, living in an apartment might not protect your cat from serious injury. Balconies, terraces and open windows can be unseen enemies, if you don’t take precautions.
While high rise syndrome is primarily a problem of city cats, even suburban and country cat owners need to take heed. Although cats usually land on their feet, depending on the distance of the fall and the kind of surface they land on, they can sustain severe injuries or death. Cats appear to like to perch in dangerous, high places and have little fear of heights. Many owners believe they will not fall. But they do fall, thousands of them each year from balconies, open windows and rooftops. Sometimes a cat who has been watching a bird will become so focused, she may step out into thin air; sometimes a cat chasing a moth indoors can sail right out an open unscreened window.
A determined cat can wiggle through the smallest opening of any window or glass sliding door. Tiny balcony ledges are a particular hazard to high-rise cats. A comfortable body harness and leash held by you is the best protection against any falls.
Keep your cat safe by "cat-proofing" your balcony or terrace. To prevent your cat from slipping out, make sure your entire balcony is fully enclosed with wire fencing, that the wire is firmly attached to the frame and there are no gaps. Learn how to build a "catio" on your balcony or yard.
For added safety, secure your cat in a well-fitted harness and leash and supervise them on the patio.
Vacation: If You Leave Your Pet Behind
Take time to explain your pet’s routine to the sitter and include a list of instructions of what to do if the pet is lost.
Ideally a relative or a friend who knows your pets or gets to know them before you leave and will be with them most of the day. Before you go, leave an adequate supply of food, grooming instructions, exercise routine and veterinarian’s and emergency clinic telephone numbers. Also inform your microchip provider of the temporary contact numbers. If possible, leave your itinerary and phone numbers. Make sure your pet is wearing a collar and tag and has had all vaccinations. Call your sitter a couple of times to check things out.
Many agree to stop by each day to feed, water and exercise your pet. Make sure you entrust this duty to a responsible person and get references.
Pet sitters are an excellent alternative to kennelling, especially for cats who often don’t do well out of their home environment. Check the yellow pages for people offering these services. Better yet, talk to friends and family and find out if they can recommend someone. Always check references and look for someone who is bonded.
Visit The Kennel and Check for the Following
Vacation: If You Take Your Pet With You
Travelling with your pet can be fun for the whole family if you take precautions to keep your pet safe.
Keep complete identification and rabies tag on your dog or cat at all times.
If travelling by air or train, make sure to check the policies of the carrier or train line beforehand. Air travel is of most concern when taking pets on vacation. It is recommended that you do not ship your pet unless there is no alternative. However, you can minimize the chances of an unpleasant experience.
Remember, there is never a vacation from a leash, collar and identification tag. Do not allow your pet to roam. Many pets become lost and confused in unfamiliar surroundings. Many die from malnutrition, stress or disease. Encounters with wild animals such as raccoons and porcupines can be very unpleasant and dangerous to your pet.
Winter Holidays and Pets
The holidays are a great chance to spend quality time with loved ones, but they also present many hazards for pets. The same things that make the holidays special to people may cause problems for their animals. Follow these pet tips for the holidays to keep your companion animals safe, healthy and happy.
Keeping Pets Safe Around Guests
Keeping Your Pet Safe Around Gifts
Don't Share Holiday Meals With Your Pet
Pet Care on Canada Day
With the warm weather, festivities and evening fireworks, Canada Day is an exciting day for people. It also presents challenges for pet owners. This Canada Day, use our checklist below to make sure your pets are able to have as good a time as you!
See our Hot Weather Safety Tips for more info!
Fireworks are incredibly loud for animals. The explosions are frightening and happen at unpredictable intervals. Pets can interpret fireworks as threats, possibly causing them to run away or hide. It’s best to keep your pet indoors in a cool location with water. Pets that do run away and are confused or panicked often wind up in shelters like the OHS, so make sure your pets are microchipped.
To help keep your pet calm during fireworks, try turning the TV or radio on to mask the noise, or set up a spot for them in a quiet room like the bathroom.
Alcohol and cannabis are dangerous for pets to consume and can lead to vomiting, decreased coordination, central nervous system depression, urinary incontinence/dribbling urine, hypothermia, low blood pressure, difficulty breathing, tremors, abnormal blood acidity, coma and even death. If ingested, contact your veterinarian immediately.
Summer weather, especially in recent years, is hot and humid. This heat means pavement can burn a dog’s feet when they walk on it. It’s best to either avoid paved areas and go to a dog park, or wait until it cools down.
If you're bringing your dog to an event, keep an eye on your dog's stress and comfort level in crowds. If your dog is showing signs of stress, be prepared to step away and bring them to a quiet area away from people to calm down. Don't forget to offer your dog water regularly and watch for signs of heat stroke.
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