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The ASPCA provides some helpful tips on how to protect your pets when the weather outside is frightful:
1. Keep you cat inside: Outdoors, felines can freeze, become lost or stolen, injured, or even killed.
2. Knock on hood: During winter, outdoor cats sometimes like to catnap under the hoods of cars. When the motor starts, the hapless puss can be injured or killed by the fan belt. If you know of outdoor cats in your neighborhood, bang loudly on the car hood before starting the engine to give the critter a chance to make a break for it.
3. Keep the leash on: In a snowstorm, dogs can lose their scent and easily become lost, so never let your pooch off the leash on snow or ice, especially in a snowstorm. More dogs are lost during the winter than during any other season, according to the ASPCA.4. Wipe their paws: Thoroughly wipe off your dog's legs and stomach when he comes in out of the sleet, snow, or ice, because he can ingest salt, antifreeze, or other potentially dangerous chemicals while licking his paws. (Learn how to melt the ice, nicely.)
5. Let it grow: Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter, as the longer coat will provide more warmth. Own a short-haired breed? Consider getting it a coat or sweater with a high collar or turtleneck, with coverage from the base of the tail to the belly.
6. Clean up after yourself: Antifreeze is a lethal poison for both cats and dogs, so be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your car. Consider using products that contain propylene glycol, rather than ethylene glycol, as well, says the ASPCA.
