Health
cold weather
how to prepare
our pets
Pet owners do not have to worry about the
effects of snow on their pets but it does
get chilly and occasionally below freezing
in Florida. The concern is that our pets are not
well prepared to handle the rare cold weather. It
is the duty of pet owners to make sure the pets are
not exposed to danger during these cold spells.
Let’s start with clothes; do pets really need
them? Certain hairless or thinned coated pets
will require to be bundled up when going for a
walk. Typically, the less body fat the pet has the
worse it can withstand the cold environment. In
fact, most dogs really do well to insulate against
cold with just their fur so what all pets need is
a warm shelter from the wind and rain. A dog
house can be filled with straw to insulate and
keep outdoor cats and dogs warm. The water
supply should be checked against freezing and
the water intake monitored closely since many
pets dislike drinking cold water. In our practice,
we see an increase in urinary blockages during
the cold season and it perhaps could be linked
to a decrease in water consumption. Signs that
your cat or dog has a urinary tract issue include
abnormal urination or accidents in the house,
small or very large output of urine, red-tinged
or dark-colored urine and pain upon urination.
The cold weather also brings in some pain issues
to the forefront since many older pets suffer from
osteoarthritis that worsens when exposed to the
cold temperatures. The pain could be worse if the
Meet the Doctor
humidity remains high. Relieving your pet from
pain requires a visit to your veterinarian. How
would you know if they are experiencing pain?
Pets usually pant more, avoid moving much (not
jumping or having difficulty rising), they might
eat less and show behavioral changes like be
more cranky.
Mitsie Vargas DVM, CVA, CTCVMP is an author
and owner of Orchid Springs Animal Hospital.
She was named FVMA’s Veterinarian of the
Year. You can reach her at drv@osahvets.com,
@osahvets on Twitter or her Facebook page.
Orchid Springs Animal al Hospital
615 Overlook Drive
Winter Haven
863.324.6964
osahvets.com
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