BOYD COUNTY, Ky. (WSAZ) – With snow and colder temperatures in the forecast, there are some ways to make sure your pets stay safe and warm as they’re out enjoying the change in weather.
Debbie Diamond with the Boyd County Animal Shelter said companion animals should not be left outside when the temperature hits freezing.
“Ideally, they should never be out in those kinds of conditions. I understand that sometimes that can’t be helped, for whatever reason. If that is the case, keeping them as well insulated as possible is the key. Law requires on a regular day that they have a house provided with at least three sides and a roof. For this type of weather, it needs to be four sides,” Diamond said.
She suggests putting up a blanket or towel in doghouses to help cut off the wind.
The icy conditions can also lead to your pets becoming injured on their daily walk.
“It wasn’t a normal snow. It had a lot of ice in it. When that breaks, it’s going to be just like glass. It does cut, scrape, injure the pads on their feet, so be noticing the dog’s feet,” Diamond said.
With how icy the roads have been, people have been trying to treat the ice to make it melt. The salt being used to treat on sidewalks and other outdoor surfaces can be dangerous for pets to eat.
“When they come in, wipe their feet, wash them, get all that residue off their feet before they start to lick their paws,” Diamond said.
Diamond said dog wipes are just one way to help make sure your pet’s paws are clean after playing in the snow and salt.
She also said if your animal is staying outside, to make sure you use straw, not blankets, to keep them warm. Once a blanket gets wet, it can make your pet colder in the already frigid conditions.
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