Hot summer days and warm autumn afternoons have waned to frosty mornings and chilly nights. With the approach of winter weather, remember that your animals will need to be adequately prepared for the cold months ahead. Even with coats of feathers, fur, or hair, they are still vulnerable in colder weather, and following some simple safety precautions can keep your companion animals warm, safe, and sound.
All companion animals need to be protected in freezing temperatures.
Here at Pasado’s Safe Haven, our animals anticipate the change of season with bulkier winter coats and an increased preference for covered areas. With the approach of winter weather, taking cold-weather precautions for your pets is vital for their health and safety.
For those who share their homes with feline companions, it’s important to keep them indoors. We recommend that you keep your cats inside but if your cat is indoor-outdoor, make sure that there’s suitable covered shelter available with warm bedding and access to water. Similar precautions should be taken if you share your property with feral cats. Here at Pasado’s, our feral cats enjoy shelter in the barn and warmth from plenty of hay and wool shorn from our sheep.
The shorn wool from sheep like Lady Baa Baa help our barn cats stay warm in the cold winter months.
Remaining warm during cold weather requires increased caloric expenditure. Having plenty of food and water facilitates your pets’ ability to maintain a healthy weight and have immune systems that can thwart off illnesses.
It’s important to be especially cautious once the snow starts falling. Dogs lose their bearing because familiar surroundings are suddenly obscured in a mantle of white. Familiar sounds, like your voice, are muffled, and familiar smells are blanketed. Without these sensory cues, navigation is difficult, and many lost companion animals end up at area shelters during the winter months.
The cold weather can be especially difficult for older dogs, like beautiful Bella. At Pasado's Dog Towne, our residents have heated cabins and comfortable dog beds to stay warm through the winter months.
Have coats available for short-haired dogs who don’t have an undercoat or are otherwise ill-equipped for the cold weather. It is a common misconception that dogs fare well outdoors in all seasons, but many dogs have short, sleek coats that do not provide adequate protection from inclement weather. Here at Pasado’s Dog Towne in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, we always take added precautions. Our happy hounds have heated cabins and comfy dog beds to warm up after a brisk outdoor run.
If you have pets in terrariums or aquariums, make sure that they aren’t located near windows with a draft. Exposure to the cold air can cause these animals’ core body temperatures to decrease to lethally low levels and they can die within a relatively short amount of time.
Here at Pasado’s, our hoofed friends have 24-hour access to covered areas, which is especially important in winter snow and rain. We also use heaters to prevent the water troughs from freezing. Outdoor animals often need blankets, but let your animals establish a winter hair “base coat,” using blankets for particularly cold days. Be especially careful with older equines who may have arthritis or are otherwise vulnerable to the elements. Arthritis supplements for older horses and dogs often help them get through those cold winter months, providing respite from the pain and offering them more mobility.
A warm winter blanket helps a horse maintain a healthy weight during the cold winter months.
Plenty of food, water, and warmth are integral to a companion animal safely “weathering it out.” A few safety precautions can ensure that your animals have a safe, happy, and healthy winter.
Here at Pasado’s, many of our animals are lifetime residents. Providing full-time care for them during every season can become expensive, but thanks to the support of donors like you, our animals receive first-rate care.
Please consider making a donation – your support helps save lives during every season! Thank you – from all of the animals here at Pasado’s. May your heart and home stay warm this winter season.