Winter can be a hazardous time for your cat or dog. In fact, when you combine frigid outdoor temperatures and chemicals from ice-melting agents, a simple walk around the block can be challenging in the extreme.
That’s why we encourage you to follow these seasonal safety precautions:
Help prevent dry, itchy skin by keeping your home humidified and towel-drying your pet after coming in from the outdoors.
- Avoid shaving your long-haired dog down to the skin in the colder month. Simply give him or her a trim if needed. If your pooch is short-haired, consider getting a sweater or coat with a high collar to keep him warm.
- After each walk, thoroughly wash and dry your pet, paying close attention to the feet and stomach where ice, salt, and chemicals can settle.
- Cut back on baths during colder months. Just like us, pets lose essential oils and can easily develop dry, flaky skin. If you must bathe Fido or Freckles, ask your vet to recommend a moisturizing shampoo.
- Antifreeze is a lethal poison for cats and dogs. Thoroughly clean up any spills from your car, and consider using products that contain propylene glycol instead of those that contain ethylene glycol.
- Talk to your vet about your pet’s nutritional needs during the winter months, as pets burn extra energy trying to stay warm and might need a little bit more food. And don’t forget to offer plenty of clean drinking water to prevent dehydration.
- And remember, if it’s too cold outside for you, it’s probably too cold for them. Keep your pets indoors to prevent them from freezing, becoming disoriented, lost, or injured. And never leave your pet alone in a car during cold weather.
Preventing and treating dry, itchy skin can be a daunting task for humans, too. But it doesn’t have to be. Not with a whole-house humidifier working in tandem with your heating system to add much-needed moisture into your home all winter long. You get to control the exact level of indoor relative humidity and you can change it at any time. Plus, added humidity will help lower your home heating costs.
To learn more, contact Optimum Air today and ask for a free in-home consultation and home humidifier quote.