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Infographic: Winter Safety Tips for Pets

By Christy True
December 3, 2020 • 1 min. read
winter-featured

With winter comes colder temperatures and other hazards for pets. See our tips on how to protect your pet from the cold, darkness, and other seasonal dangers.

PDF version of this graphic | Text is below graphic
Winter Safety Tips for Pets

Stay warm

All pets need extra care in particularly cold weather, but older pets and those with thin coats are especially vulnerable.

Signs your pet is too cold:

  • Shaking or shivering
  • Reluctance to walk
  • Hunched posture
  • Lifting paws off the ground

Keep them warm:

  • Jackets, sweaters, and booties
  • Bring outdoor pets inside
  • Shorten walks for vulnerable pets
  • Don’t leave pets in cars

Keep winter hazards out of paws’ reach

  • Heaters that can be knocked over
  • Rodent poisons
  • Anti-freeze
  • Holiday décor
  • Toxic houseplants
  • Holiday foods
  • Wipe paws before coming inside to remove salt and chemicals
  • Ice melt chemicals and salt

Be seen

With fewer hours of daylight, make sure pets can be seen in the dark with reflective collars/harnesses or flashing lights.

Watch out for warmth-seeking animals

Check under your car, and bang on the hood or honk the horn to awaken any animals that may have sought shelter there.

Christy True and Tomas
By Christy True

Christy has been writing about pets for Healthy Paws for 21 dog years. She previously worked in journalism, hence her penchant for writing about offbeat animal studies and the latest viral pet trends. She has been owned by several dogs, and right now, Tomas, a Mexican street dog rescue, is staring at her because he wants a walk. Outside of work, she can usually be found sliding down a mountain near her home in Bend, Ore.

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