KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – When the temperatures drop, the cold weather can have an impact on your pets. The Humane Society of the Tennessee Valley said it’s a good idea to keep your pets inside as much as possible when it’s bitterly cold.
When you take your pets on walks, pay attention to the salt distributed on the roads and sidewalks.
“If you do go on walks, make sure the ground is not covered in salt. If it is covered in salt, when you come back inside, you want to make sure you wipe off the paws of your dog’s feet because they can lick that and that can be dangerous for them,” Gwen Schablik, with the Humane Society of the Tennessee Valley, said. “There’s also just the cold weather in general. Their feet can get frozen. If you can, put little booties on their paws. That can help protect their feet from touching the ground.”
Schablik also said if you have to leave your pets outdoors, make sure they have a warm shelter to go to.
“If you do have outside animals, provide them a shelter, provide them with hay or mulch or something to keep a nice warm space in their shelter, and then obviously provide them with water that isn’t frozen,” Schablik said.
Some breeds, like huskies, love the cold. The Humane Society of the Tennessee Valley said you should allow them to enjoy the cold weather, but do not leave them out in it for too long.
“Definitely let them be out in their normal environment right now and enjoy that cold weather, but not too long,” Schablik said.
