Pet Tip of the Month
Winter Pet Safety
By Krystle Wright

It may be a winter wonderland for us, but for our pets, the snowy season is full of dangers. Protect your pets from chemical and organic poisons and hypothermia.

Common winter chemicals can be hazardous and even fatal to your pets.
The antifreeze that keeps your car engine running even when the temperature is below freezing can also attract your pet with its sweet taste. There’s no such thing as ingesting a harmless little bit, either. According to the ASPCA, just one tablespoon of antifreeze is enough to kill a 10-pound cat.

Antifreeze isn’t the only winter chemical that can poison your pet. Ice melts can also be a danger. ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control warns that ice melt products – especially those that contain calcium chloride, sodium chloride (salt) or magnesium chloride – can cause vomiting, among other symptoms, and death in pets. Skin exposure to ice melts can also result in dry and irritated paw pads.

If you think your pet may have ingested antifreeze or ice melt, seek veterinary care immediately. Prevent ingestion from happening in the first place by storing unused chemicals out of the reach of animals and cleaning up any chemical spills as soon as they happen. When choosing an ice melt product for your yard or driveway, invest in a pet-safe product, but make sure you read the ingredient list on the label. The ASPCA recommends buying urea-based products. Even if your ice melt is pet-safe, it’s a good idea to supervise your pet and wipe off your pet’s paws when he or she comes inside.

If the cold weather is driving mice and rats inside your house, exterminate with care.
Rodenticides can also poison larger animals, and because of the way rodenticides are used, pets like cats and dogs are at a big risk for ingesting the chemicals. In some cases, signs of poison might not occur until three to five days or more after ingestion. Rodenticide poisoning can cause symptoms as severe as hemorrhage and renal failure – and can do so quickly depending on the type of chemical and the amount ingested – so seek veterinarian help immediately.

It’s not only cold-weather chemicals that can poison your pets, either.  Ethanol – alcohol of any kind – and prescription and over-the-counter medications, like the ones you use to fight cold, flu and allergy symptoms this time of year, can cause a range of problem in pets. The ethanol present in alcoholic beverages, personal care products and cleaning and disinfecting products for the home can lead to vomiting, tremors and even death. The effect of different medications depends on the medication ingested. Antihistamines, for example, can cause cardiac arrest and death in a dog or cat, depending on the size of the animal and the amount of medication ingested.

As with all chemicals, keep rodenticides, products that contain alcohol and medications out of reach of your pets to prevent ingestion from occurring.

Chemicals aren’t the only poisonous substances in and around your home.
Inside your home, house plants like lilies can be poisonous to cats in particular. Ingesting Easter Lilies, Day Lilies, Tiger Lilies or Devil’s Tongue (also known as Voodoo Lilies) can cause acute renal failure, which can lead to death, in cats – even if only one leaf is ingested.

You might be surprised to learn that substance commonly found outside the homes of dog and outdoor cat owners is also dangerous. Animal feces that are left to decay in a yard can expose humans and animals to parasites like roundworms, giardia and toxoplasma. Giardia is known to cause digestive problems like diarrhea in humans as well as animals. Toxoplasma parasites spread a disease called toxoplasmosis, which can cause flulike aches and pains, vision problems if the eyes are infected, and even damage of various organs in severe cases. Pregnant women are especially susceptible to toxoplasmosis. To prevent these parasites from infecting your pets and your family, dispose of animal feces properly and wash your hands thoroughly after coming into contact with feces. If your pet shows signs of having a parasite, contact your veterinarian.

Keep your pet warm.
True, your dog or cat is always wearing a fur coat. But that doesn’t mean your fluffy pets are immune to hypothermia. If your pet displays symptoms like shivering and weakness after exposure to the cold, it could be a result of a dangerous decrease in body temperature. Use warm blankets and towels to help warm our pet up, and monitor its temperature. Complications like infections can occur in pets who have suffered hypothermia, so seek veterinary care.

Hypothermia in pets is preventable. The simplest way to protect your dog or cat is to make sure it is never left outside for long in cold temperatures. This is especially true for smaller and older animals, who may be more sensitive to the temperature and who are not as well-equipped to handle cold climates. Don’t leave your pet in a car on cold days, either. Make sure your pets receive proper nutrition and stay hydrated at all times, but especially during the winter season.

This article would not be possible without the help and guidance of Dr. William McAlonan, DVM, Wilwynn Animal Hospital,  496 Greenwich Road, Bridgeton, NJ.  (856) 451-0789

Krystle L. Wright graduated from Rowan University in May 2011 with her M.A. in Writing and her B.A. in Writing Arts.

Krystle just took on her first client as a freelance public relations writer. She loves all kinds of writing but especially fiction, and she’s working on her first novel. When she’s not writing (and even when she is), she’s probably listening to music or shopping.