How to keep pets safe during the cold snap

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – We usually tell you about how to keep your pets cool during a heatwave with repeated warnings from the SPCA, but the same rules apply to pets now that we’re sitting well below the freezing mark.

The agency’s Jodi Dunlop says use common sense and try to keep your pets inside during this cold snap. She adds if you take your dog out for a stroll, there’s something else to be mindful of. “When you’re out walking your dogs, especially with this ice, you want to check their pads when you get home. Make sure there isn’t salt up inside the pads because that can cause a lot of irritation.”

Dunlop urges that if your dog is generally an outdoor pet, you need to ensure they have appropriate housing to protect them from the wind and cold, and don’t leave dogs in cars for extended periods, especially if they’re short haired animals.

She says cats are a little more susceptible to the weather. “We just add another cat brought in to the emergency clinic because it was left out last night and it’s bitterly cold. [We understand] a lot of animals like to go in and out but we are recommending in this bitter cold to keep them inside.”

Dunlop says some cats tend to huddle up under the hood of the car near the engine when it’s cold outside. She suggests to knock the hood of your car to ensure there isn’t an animal underneath before you start the engine.