{"id":754,"date":"2025-01-16T12:10:08","date_gmt":"2025-01-16T17:10:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.volvethosp.com\/blog\/?p=754"},"modified":"2025-01-16T12:10:20","modified_gmt":"2025-01-16T17:10:20","slug":"pet-first-aid-essentials-preparing-for-winter-emergencies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.volvethosp.com\/blog\/pet-first-aid-essentials-preparing-for-winter-emergencies\/","title":{"rendered":"Pet First-Aid Essentials: Preparing for Winter Emergencies"},"content":{"rendered":"
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One of the most significant aspects of pet ownership is establishing and maintaining strategies that ensure their safety. In other words, pet safety is a way of life that, when upheld, manages to promote a pet\u2019s overall well-being. Preparing for winter emergencies is just one more aspect of care and consideration, and can go a long way to prevent illness or injury. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Winter Pet Safety<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cold weather can either directly cause or make worse various medical conditions, including but not limited to, arthritis. It may be worthwhile to have your pet examined before the winter really sets in. We can help you understand the whole picture of their health, reveal certain limitations related to the weather, and provide specific tips on managing your pet\u2019s age or breed-related challenges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Too Cold For You?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Generally speaking, if it’s too cold outside for you, it\u2019s probably too cold for your pet to withstand a significant period of time outdoors. While every pet has a different cold tolerance, it\u2019s ideal to set their limits. Instead of longer periods outside, opt for several, shorter increments instead. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Senior pets and those with arthritis <\/a>need help getting around on ice-cold or slippery surfaces. Smaller pets, puppies or kittens, and shorter legged breeds are more prone to cold weather-related illnesses. Also, pets with existing medical conditions, including Cushing\u2019s disease, kidney disease, diabetes, and heart disease have greater difficulty regulating their internal body temperatures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It may be a good idea to add extra calories to your pet’s winter diet to replace the calories spent to stay warm, but before you make any changes please let us know. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Risk Management<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After any time spent outside, check your pet\u2019s paws for any injury like cracked or bleeding pads. Keep an eye on the hair between the paw pads; longer hair can trap ice and chemicals.<\/a> Wash their feet in lukewarm water and dry off before allowing them to lick at their feet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n