WINTER HAVEN – The fact that most are wearing a fur coat won’t be enough to keep them warm during the upcoming cold spell.
With freezing temperatures approaching, experts say it’s important to make sure pets are inside or to adjust accordingly.
“Having a shelter like a dog house and filling it with hay will actually work as an insulator,” said Dr. Mitsie Vargas, a veterinarian at Orchid Springs Animal Hospital in Winter Haven. “If you don’t have a dog house, fill your sheds with hay. That works for stray cats as well if you feed stray cats.”
For outdoor pets, adjusting can be tough, said Paula Creamer, marketing director for SPCA Florida in Lakeland. People should understand that, she said, noting that garages, utility rooms or bathrooms are all better alternatives than leaving them outdoors.
“Even if you have to bring them into the garage, do that,” Creamer said. “Garages stay about 60 degrees. I know some animals don’t like to be enclosed. If you have to, get a sleeping bag and lay with them.”
Vargas said that if pets are kept outside in a shed or doghouse during the cold to try to find a way to keep their drinking water flowing, like with a fountain. Dogs will drink freezing water, she said, but for cats, it could cause a urinary tract infection and for horses, it could bring colic.
“If for some reason you have to leave your animals outside, find a way to block the wind,” Creamer said. “If you have to put them in a shed or a dog house, cover up the holes and put a blanket down to keep them off the cold concrete or ground.”
Both Creamer and Vargas noted that space heaters should be avoided outdoors. They can be used indoors, as can heating pads and heated blankets, but should be monitored.
“Elderly dogs or cats with arthritic pain, (the cold) exasperates it,” Vargas said.
Vargas added that dogs will show their pain by panting or being restless and that heating pads can help. In some cases, she said, it’s OK to increase their pain medication. The cold weather, Vargas said, will also cause the pads of their feet to crack and that can be alleviated by applying coconut oil or Vaseline.
“You’ll probably notice your dogs are eating more,” Vargas said. “They need to create more energy, which means they need to eat more calories, so be generous and not too strict with their diet.”
Creamer said the SPCA has donated sheets and blankets to Polk County Animal Control for the cold spell. Although they are limited, the nonprofit is also working to provide owners who ask with supplies.
Vargas noted that at freezing temperatures, all pets need to be brought indoors. For temperatures above freezing, the threshold can vary based on breed. According to Petplan, a temperature of 40 degrees can be life-threatening for small and medium-sized dogs.
“Thick-coated dogs actually enjoy the colder temperatures,” Vargas said. “The fact that this is so rare here actually helps our animals. They don’t have to develop the tolerance that some do up north.”
Another thing to be mindful of, Vargas said, is places where stray cats can hide to stay warm. A common place, she said, is near car motors. If the car is kept outside, she said, beat on the hood before starting just to make sure there are no cats underneath.
Mike Ferguson can be reached at Mike.Ferguson@theledger.com or 863-4016981. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson.