Winter Storm Dangers for Pets

Pets are not immune to the potential dangers that can cause injury both during and immediately after winter snow storms.  Storm-related injuries sustained by a puppy and kitten treated at MSPCA-Angell in Boston should make pet owners pause and take notice about precautionary measures they can take to help ensure their pet's safety during inclement weather.

Fortunately, both animals treated by the MSPCA are now stable as they recover from their serious injuries. The puppy was a beagle that required amputation of its tail and a pin placed in its leg after it was hit by a snow plow. The kitten encountered severe burns to its paw pads as a result of the corrosive chemicals in ice melt products used by property owners and public works departments to prevent slips and falls on ice.
There are some simple steps you can take to prevent these injuries from occurring in your pets:

• Always use pet-safe, salt-free ice melter on your property. The chemicals in ice melts that are not designed with pets in mind can cause severe burns to a pet’s paw pads.
   
• Use paw protection products on your pet’s paws when they are outdoors. Even if you use pet-safe ice melt, your neighbor or your public works department likely does not do the same. See our article with reviews of paw protection products for pets for more information on bootie and paw ointment options.
   
• Don’t let your pet outdoors off-leash. Even if you have an "outdoor" cat or your dog is well-trained to come when called there are too many risks that could compromise their life during a storm.  If a driver sees your pet running into the street and there is snow or ice on the pavement, even the most well-intentioned, animal-loving driver can’t fully control their car when they slam on the brakes quickly to prevent themselves from hitting your pet.
   
• Always wash your pet’s paws after they come in from outdoors.  Chances are they will lick their paws clean if you don’t do it for them.  If the road salt chemicals on their paws is ingested it could be toxic.
   
• Bundle up your pet before taking it outdoors.  Some people think putting coats on dogs and cats is going overboard, but pets are prone to hypothermia and frostbite, particularly senior pets and breeds that are short-haired or hairless.  When the temperature dips and the winds are howling, dress your pet appropriately to protect it from these winter dangers.
  
  
• Older pets need extra care during the cold weather, as noted by the experts from The Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in their new book, 'Good Old Dog: Expert Advice for Keeping your Aging Dog Happy, Healthy and Comfortable'.  Shorter walks, extra-warm bedding and even pet-heating pads can help alleviate the joint stiffness pets often experience when the temparature drops outside.

What steps have you taken to keep your pet safe during and after the storms this winter?

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