Keep Your Pets in Reisterstown Warm This Winter!

Winter weather is here and temperatures outside are dropping! If you have a pet, now is the time to think about ways to protect your pet from winter's chill. At TLC for Pets in Reisterstown, we want all pet owners to protect their pets and be aware of the dangers of hypothermia.

Keep Your Pet Warm

Many pets do best when living indoors. However, if your pet lives outside, the following tips will help you keep your pet warm outdoors this winter:

• Dress your pet. Dress up your pet in a sweater, booties and other warm clothes.

• Provide your pet with shelter. Your pet should have access to a pet house, garage or a shed where he or she can escape the snow, ice and rain.

• Bring your pet inside when temperatures are dangerously low. Watch the weather forecast and put your pet indoors when temperatures outside reach extreme lows.

• Heat your pet's bed and water dish. Give your pet a heated bed and water dish so your pet will have a warm place to sleep and water--not ice--to drink.

• Exercise your pet to help him or her stay warm. On a daily basis, play with your pet or take your pet for walks to ensure that he or she has a chance to get his or her blood moving.

Recognize the Signs of Hypothermia

Hypothermia can endanger your pet. Watch out for these signs:

• Shallow breathing

• Shivering

• Muscle stiffness

• Difficulty breathing

• Weak heartbeat

• Dilated pupils

If your pet displays any of these warning signs, contact your pet's veterinarian right away. If your pet lives in Reisterstown, MD, contact TLC for Pets. Hypothermia can be deadly. Don't hesitate to get your pet help when he or she needs it. We can treat your pet and tell you more about how to avoid this kind of pet injury in the future.

How do you plan on keeping your four-legged family member warm this winter?