When winter arrives, it comes in fast and furious. Along with it we often shift gears in our thinking about our furry friends and their health issues. Cold temperatures, snow, ice and short days create some well-known challenges for the human-animal bond. Following are some of the more obvious issues and some you may not have thought of.
Exercise - Hopefully, all of our feline family members (and pocket pets) are kept indoors ALL year long. Therefore they are likely to remain the "couch potatoes" they always are. We should always be encouraging these lazy loungers to move their tails a little with safe toys, laser lights, etc. We also need to resist the temptation to "feed their boredom" with treats. Obesity is an epidemic problem in today's culture and our pets are no exception. If you can get your kitty to use a treadmill, more power to you. Otherwise you need to keep their caloric intake under control by measuring the daily ration (keep it premium dry food if possible, few treats and NO people food) and keep it reasonable. Learn to weigh your cat and check it once a month.
Dogs (who are not litter box trained) still need to go out in the elements at least twice a day or more. Provide a clear path to their "toilet area" and supervise the event. Too often, dogs are let out in the inclement weather alone because it's too much trouble to put on our boots or snow gear. Don't let your dog become a statistic. As much as possible, take those long walks instead. Remember that snow and ice can chafe the feet, especially when mixed with melting chemicals like rock salt or calcium chloride. Wash their feet off when back home or consider doggie boots available through a good pet supply store.
Cold temperatures - Animals kept outdoors for any length of time, especially in the winter, need adequate shelter. Even arctic breeds need protection from wind and snow. Water and food may freeze and thus become unavailable. If your dog sleeps outside in a doghouse or other shelter during the winter, consider spending the night with him on a really cold night to see if the doghouse needs supplemental heat or insulation! You might just find that some corrective measures are in order. Older and thinner pets, as well as most short hair breeds, benefit from doggie sweaters or coats when going out for walks. Cold, dry winter air can aggravate our pets with chronic respiratory disease. Consider humidifiers and shorten their walks when it's bitter cold. Cats often get frostbite on their ear tips if left outside (bad, bad, bad) and they are often mangled or killed by fan belt injuries when they nestle on a warm automobile engine and the owner turns the key (see recommendation above under "Exercise").
Ears - If your dog has ever been diagnosed with a yeast ear infection, be aware that playing in the snow can result in moisture buildup inside your dog's ears similar to swimming in the summer. If you have an ear-drying solution to prevent these infections you need to use it after your dog has been romping in the snow.
Parasites - Most pet owners are under the impression that fleas and ticks are not a problem in the winter. While most fleas remain in the dormant cocoon stage from January to July, some will still cycle and hatch in protected areas where large numbers of cats hang out under porches and in garages or barns. They can also remain active if your house is warm and the humidity is greater than 50%. Most households with cats that go outdoors have flea exposure year round.
Ticks can be a threat even in the winter whenever the temperature gets above 40 F and the ground is not covered with snow. We often find engorged ticks on our patients in the winter during the few weeks following a winter thaw. So keep the Frontline, Advantage, Advantix or Revolution going year round. Intestinal parasites remain contagious all winter as well, so keep up with the Heartgard Plus or Interceptor as they protect against many intestinal parasites as well as heartworms.
