Kamloops SPCA provides tips to keep your pet safe in the cold

Bennett says dogs and cats can get sick from being out in the cold and their paws are susceptible to frostbite.

“Another problem is the ice and the salt on the ground, it can really hurt their paws and that can be a lasting effect,” Bennett said, “so picking up dog boots or coming up with your own, putting some beeswax on their paws, there’s also things you can buy in the store that have that wax component that help protect it against the salt and the ice, that’ll make a big difference.”

In most cases, cats should be kept inside when temperatures reach dangerous levels.

“Cats freeze to death, cats end up having kittens in the cold,” Bennett said. “It can still be really dangerous to them.”

Older cats, older dogs and puppies are most at risk in the cold.

If you are concerned about seeing an animal being in the cold there are some things that you can do.

“If it looks like a situation where it looks like you can, in a very friendly and calm manner, express some concern and maybe ask if the animal’s going to be going back inside soon, that’s an opportunity,” Bennett said.

“Sometimes people just aren’t aware or aren’t thinking about it. And then if it seems like a situation where somebody perhaps needs to intervene, which those do happen a lot, they can call our hotline, the SPCA has a hotline and you can go to our website and get all the information.”

Bennett says there is one simple way to know whether your pet should be going outside.

“If you’re stepping out and your fingers and toes are cold and you’re really needing to bundle up, chances are your animal’s needing to do the same.”

by Jill Sperling

Kamloops SPCA provides tips to keep your pet safe in the cold

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