• Keep your pets inside the house, where they are safe and comfortable
• Place curtains over any windows to minimize the visual stimulation
• Play calming music, white noise, or Animal Planet on the TV.
• Give your pets enrichment and their favorite toys so they can keep their minds busy and not focused on the loud fireworks. Try filling a toy with peanut butter or various treats.
• Some pets are more anxious than others. We recommend talking to your veterinarian to see if any medication could aid in keeping your pet’s stress level down.
• If you have cats, we recommend purchasing and using a non-sponsored product called Feliway. It puts out a calming pheromone that is unique to only cats.
• If you need to take your dog outside to use the bathroom, make sure they are wearing a properly fitted collar or harness while they are leashed even if you have a fence.
• Double check your fence to make sure there are no openings or loose areas, as well as checking that all latches are secure.
• Make sure all pets are wearing up-to-date I.D. tags on their collar or harness.

Make sure your pet is also microchipped and that the information is current. FWACC offers microchipping for just $15. To check to see if your pet’s microchip is up-to-date, visit our website.

Help your pets remain happy and healthy during the cold, winter months by following these measures. 

DO:

Keep your home humidified and towel-dry your pet as soon as they come inside. Repeatedly coming out of the cold into the dry heat of your home can cause itchy, flaking skin. Be sure to remove any snowballs from between their foot pads and wash off the salt from their paws.

Give your horses shelter and dry warmth. This will help them escape from the wind and cold. If you have body-clipped your horses, keep them blanketed throughout the winter.

Keep water accessible and offer extra food. Extra food helps generate enough body heat to stay warm. Be sure their water is not frozen.

Keep you cats inside. Felines who spend time outside can experience frostbite or become lost or injured.

Tap your car hood. Neighborhood cats tend to seek warmth from the engine compartment, with many sleeping under car hoods for the night.

DO NOT:

Never shave your dog down to the skin during the winter months. A longer coat will provide more warmth. If your dog is long-haired, simply trim them to minimize the clinging ice balls, salt crystals, and de-icing chemicals that can dry their skin. Don’t forget the haris between their toes. If your dog is short-haired, consider getting them a coat or sweater with a high collar that will cover them from the base of their tail to their belly. 

Never leave pets outdoors or in a vehicle. If left outdoors, pets can freeze, become disoriented, lost, stolen, injured, or killed. Additionally, don’t leave pets alone in a car during cold weather; cars can act as refrigerators that retain the cold and can cause animals to freeze to death.

Do not bathe often. Washing your pet too often can remove essential oils and increase the chance of developing dry, flaky, skin.