People aren’t the only ones dealing with the chilly temps this time of year, our four-legged friends are too. Despite their fur, the cold weather can be downright dangerous to pets.
Lidia Vesterfelt with Michigan Humane shared some advice for pet parents to keep in mind during cold weather.
First, Lidia stressed the importance of bringing pets inside when the temperature drops. If your pets must stay outside, Lidia says to ensure they have enough food, non-frozen water, and shelter with dry bedding, such as hay. Keep in mind that pillows and blankets can retain water and freeze, making them unsuitable for outdoor shelters.
Another way to protect your pets this winter is to keep their coats long and dry. After your pet goes outside, you can help them warm up faster by drying off their coat.
It’s also important to protect your pet’s paws. Michigan Humane encourages the use of paw wax or booties to protect paw pads. You should also clean off your pet’s paws when they come inside.
Michigan Humane also shared that you should keep your pet’s calorie intake up because animals use more calories while working to stay warm.
Michigan Humane has multiple pets that are up for adoption, including a kitten named River who is around four months old. Our sponsor, the Mike Morse Law Firm, will pay the standard adoption fees for whoever adopts River.
Watch the video above to meet River and hear his story.