5 Tips For Keeping Your Pets Safe in the Winter

Written By Carli Holas

We love our pets, some like our own children. We innately want to take care of them and make sure they’re as healthy and as safe as can be. This means making sure that they’re prepared to handle the cold winter weather. There are some obvious things you can do like dressing your dogs or cats in sweaters to keep them warm when they need to go outside. There are also things you can do to protect them from winterization products you use on your landscape.

Winter Care Tips for Pets

Winter care for pets isn’t complicated if you have a healthy yard or one that’s not beyond repair. Let us help you make your yard a bit better for your pet this winter. 

#1. Clear a Path When it Snows

Many animals enjoy the snow, especially dogs, but there it can be uncomfortable to leave them with nothing but snow to do their business. When snow covers the ground, your dog will still try to go to its favorite spots. You’ll want to clear a path for your dog’s favorite spots around the yard so they can easily get to them. 

This is especially important if your dog is on the smaller side. This way they don’t get stuck in the snow or get hurt by anything underneath it. Clearing a path is also important when they go to the bathroom. Contrary to popular belief, dog waste does not dissolve in snow. Unless you want to smell what your dog leaves behind for days on end, make sure their usual bathroom spots are cleared of snow.

#2. Use Non-Toxic Propylene Glycol Antifreeze

Not all antifreeze is for your car. Some of it can be used to melt snow, and if you want to melt snow that way, you should make sure to use non-toxic propylene glycol antifreeze. Antifreeze that uses this type of chemical doesn’t taste or smell as sweet to animals as other antifreeze and is less poisonous.

Even if you use non-toxic propylene glycol, you should still clean it up from the ground. While it’s not as dangerous, it is still not good for any animal’s stomach. 

#3. Lay Down Ice Melt and Salt After You Let Your Animals Out

Ice melt and road salt are toxic to consume. While each bit is small and doesn’t attract animals, it’s not impossible for a pet to accidentally ingest some as they try to lick or eat something else. The main chemical in most ice melts is chloride, which is dangerous for anyone to ingest. 

When ingested, it can cause symptoms such as:

  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Increased urination
  • Sudden drop in blood pressure
  • Seizures
  • Tremors
  • Muscle weakness
  • Excessive salivation
  • Excessive thirst

If you notice any of these symptoms in your pet, take them to the vet. 

You need to lay down ice melt to prevent ice and snow build-up on your driveway, and unless you get significantly less snow than you planned, it shouldn’t be there in the morning. By waiting until your pet has gone outside for the last time, you can lay down ice melt without having to worry about them ingesting it.

#4. Clean Your Pet’s Paws

Anytime after a snowfall your pet goes out, you should clean their paws, and/or anything else they may have as feet. While your ice melt may have melted, it’s still likely in the snow, slush, and water that they walk through. 

Ice melt can be irritable to the skin when touched. While it’s been greatly diluted after coming into contact with snow, it can get stuck between a dog’s or cat’s pads, sitting there and irritating their skin. This can go so far as to make it momentarily painful to walk. Wiping their feet down can help avoid things like this.

#5. Keep Your Pet Hydrated

Another misconception about cold weather is that it's harder to get dehydrated. This isn’t true at all. It doesn’t matter if the weather temperature is extremely hot or extremely cold, it makes it more difficult for you and your pet to retain water. Make sure your pet has water readily available to them if they’re going to be outside for any extended period, just as you would if it were really hot out.

Contact Pioneer Landscape Centers for Winterization Materials

If you want to take these winter care tips for pets to heart, Pioneer Landscape Centers has the materials you need. We have several different brands of ice melt that can help you prevent snow from building up in your driveway. With our tips, you can prevent ice melt from bothering or harming your pet. If you need a way to clear paths for your pets, we also have shovels that will help you clear the way in no time. 

Contact the experts at your local Pioneer Landscape Centers. We’ll help you keep your yard prepared for winter, and your pet safe to enjoy it.

Carli Holas