El Paso, Texas – The current cold snap affecting the entire region can be especially dangerous to the four-legged members of our families. The City of El Paso Department of Public Health’s Animal Services Program is reminding pet owners to use the following tips to ensure that their animals are able to stay healthy during this season.
- Keep pets indoors when the temperature drops and only take them outside for supervised exercise.
- Provide more food during the winter for animals that spend a lot of time outdoors as keeping warm depletes energy.
- Check water bowls to make sure the water is fresh and is not frozen.
- Use plastic water and food bowls to prevent a pet’s tongue from sticking to frozen metal.
- Clean your pet’s paws to make sure they don’t have salt or other ice- melting chemicals that could be dangerous if licked off and ingested.
- Keep in mind that antifreeze is a deadly poison but has a sweet taste that can attract animals. Wipe spills and store anti-freeze in an area that is out of reach of both pets and children.
- Use a dry, draft-free doghouse that is large enough to allow a dog to sit and lie down but small enough to hold in its body heat. Make sure the dog house is turned away from the wind and that it is able to protect your pet from wind chills that can threaten a pet’s life.
- Take extra care when it comes to smaller breeds of animals that are more susceptible to the cold.
For more information on winter safety for both pets and their humans, log on to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention website at:
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