BATTLE MOUNTAIN - When temperatures dip into the teens and then below zero like they did last week, keeping pets indoors is ideal, but for those left outside, thawed water and adequate shelter are musts, said Lander County Animal Control Officer Terri Glazier.
According to the National Weather Service, the temperature dipped to minus 16 degrees in Battle Mountain on the night of Dec. 8 with a daytime high reaching just 20 degrees.
Glazier said the best thing to do for dogs and cats in below-zero temperatures is to keep them indoors.
For dogs that are left outside, Glazier stressed that they should have adequate shelter consisting of an insulated doghouse, plenty of dry blankets or a heat lamp. She added that it is a good idea to elevate doghouses a few inches off of the ground.
She said it is essential to make sure that pets' water bowls are not frozen and that water is provided daily.
"Make sure they are well provided for as far as heat and make sure they've got fresh water with no ice," Glazier said.
Local veterinarian Fernando Torres, of Torres Ambulatory Veterinary Services, had advice to offer for large and small animals.
"For your large animals, it is very important that they have access to fresh water," Torres said. "If possible install a water heater or at least check their water tank twice a day and break the ice. Also, providing some type of shelter that keeps them dry and provides a wind break and also feeding extra hay on colder days. For small animals kept outdoors, providing some type of insulated doghouse with bedding that keeps them dry and out of the wind. Also, like with large animals, giving them fresh water access and extra food. Remove ice pack from their toes twice a day."
Dr. Alan Cuthbertson, veterinarian, and Jamie Frayne, practice manager, both with the Elko Veterinary Clinic, had plenty of tips to offer. They suggested that people allow their pets access to the house or garage when no one is home. If pets must stay outside, people should provide warm, dry, draft free shelter, they said.
They warned pet owners to keep their four-legged friends away from antifreeze pools because it is poisonous and can be fatal if not treated.
Frayne and Cuthbertson also advised owners to check water bowls twice a day for ice or purchase water bowl heaters to prevent freezing.
They said people should check their dogs' and cats' paws twice a day for any snow packing around the pads. Owners should avoid using salts on areas that pets will be because if the salt gets on their pads, they may lick it which can cause electrolyte imbalance and possibly dehydration, they added.
They advised owners to check their pets' body conditions weekly for decreased muscle mass by feeling their bodies to determine any weight loss and decide if daily food rations need to be increased.
Winnemucca veterinarian, Dr. Rolfe H. Schwartz said that dogs that are kept outside all year long are better able to adapt to the cold weather than dogs that are kept indoors.
He recommended shelter with insulation such as hay, shavings or thick blankets. He said to make sure their water is always thawed and kept ice free. He recommended heated dog bowls. Schwartz also said that dogs need to eat more in the cold weather since their bodies are burning more calories.
Dr. Bonnie Dory, a veterinarian with the Zimmerman Veterinary Clinic in Winnemucca, said people should take care of their pets the way they take care of themselves. She said to use common sense and provide warm, dry shelter, keeping pets out of the elements as much as possible.
She added that owners need to provide plenty of food and fresh water. She said that pets' paws can freeze and get frostbite if left out for too long.
Glazier said she responded to four animal control calls between Dec. 5 and Dec. 10 when temperatures lingered mostly below freezing. The calls were mainly regarding dogs being left outside with no shelter and two involved dogs that also had frozen water.
She said she was able to make contact with all of the owners and inform them of the importance of providing shelter and fresh water for their dogs. They have since taken steps to do so, she said.
She said people can be fined for failure to provide adequate shelter for their pets. Glazier said she usually gives two warnings before fining people. She added that it is
- See PETS, Page 16 -
(Cont. from Page 10)
not a crime for people to leave their dogs outside as long as they have fresh water and adequate shelter.
She said the majority of people in Lander County take good care of their four-legged friends.
"We have a lot of good pet owners in our community," she added.
People in the Battle Mountain area who witness dogs in distress in the cold weather can call the Lander County Sheriff's Office dispatch at (775) 635-5161 or the animal control at (775) 635-3094.
The animal control does not deal with cats, but Glazier said cats are exposed to too many dangers outdoors and urged people to keep them indoors. She added that people who have cats in their neighborhoods should watch out for them climbing under the hoods of their cars to seek warmth.
Cats will curl up against almost anything to stay warm including car engines, says the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) website www.aahanet.org, which has plenty of tips to offer pet owners to keep their pets safe when it is cold outside.
Cats caught in moving engine parts can be seriously hurt or killed, it says. Before people turn their engines on, they should check beneath the car or make a lot of noise by honking the horn or rapping on the hood.
The AAHA advises that some animals can remain outside safely longer in the winter than others. Long-haired breeds such as huskies will do better in cold weather than short-haired breeds such as dachshunds.
Cats and small dogs that have to wade shoulder-deep in the snow will feel the cold sooner than larger animals, says the AAHA. A pet's health will also affect how long it can stay outside. Conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease and hormonal imbalances can compromise a pet's ability to regulate its own body heat.
Animals that are not generally in good health should not be exposed to winter weather for a long period of time. Very young and very old animals are vulnerable to the cold as well, according to the AAHA.
"Be particularly gentle with elderly and arthritic pets during the winter," says the AAHA website. "The cold can leave their joints extremely stiff and tender and they may become more awkward than usual. Stay directly below these pets when they are climbing stairs or jumping onto furniture. Consider modifying their environment to make it easier for them to get around. Make sure they have a thick, soft bed in a warm room for the chilly nights. Also, watch stiff and arthritic pets if you walk them outside. A bad slip on the ice could be very painful and cause a significant injury."
Healthypet.com advises, people who use a space heater or light a fire to watch their pets closely.
"They are as attracted to the warmth as you are, so make sure their tails or paws do not come in contact with flames, heating coils or hot surfaces that can cause severe burns," says the website. "Also, if a pet knocks over a heating source, the entire house is in danger of catching on fire."
On the website www.weather.com, there were some vital tips for keeping pets safe.
"Cold weather can be hard on pets, just like it can be hard on people," states the website. "Sometimes owners forget that their pets are just as accustomed to the warm shelter of the indoors as they are. Some owners will leave their animals outside for extended periods of time, thinking that all animals are adapted to live outdoors. This can put their pets in danger of serious illness."
The website advises owners to stay outside with their pets and keep an eye on them in freezing temperatures.
"Go ahead and put that sweater on Princess, if she'll put up with it," says www.weather.com. "It will help a little, but you can't depend on it entirely to keep her warm. Pets lose most of their body heat from the pads of their feet, their ears and their respiratory tract. The best way to guard your animals against the cold is keeping a close eye on them to make sure they're comfortable. When you're outside with your pets during the winter, you can watch them for signs of discomfort with the cold. If they whine, shiver, seem anxious, slow down or stop moving, or start to look for warm places to burrow, they're saying they want to get back someplace warm."
It also says that pets are susceptible to frostbite and hypothermia. Owners who suspect their pets might have frostbite should bring them into a warm environment right away and soak their pets' extremities in warm water for about 20 minutes to melt the ice crystals and restore circulation. Pet owners should not rub the frostbitten tissue because the ice crystals can do a lot of damage to the tissue.
"Once your pet is warm, wrap her up in some blankets and take her to the veterinarian," it advises. "Your veterinarian can assess the damage and treat your pet for pain or infection if necessary."
Hypothermia is a body temperature that is below normal and occurs when an animal is not able to keep its body temperature from falling below normal.
It happens when animals spend too much time in cold temperatures or when animals with poor health or circulation are exposed to cold. In mild cases, animals will shiver and show signs of depression, lethargy and weakness. As the condition progresses, an animal's muscles will stiffen, its heart and breathing rates will slow down and it will stop responding to stimuli.
"If you notice these symptoms, you need to get your pet warm and take her to your veterinarian," according to the website. "You can wrap her in blankets, possibly with a hot water bottle or an electric blanket, as always, wrapped in fabric to prevent against burning the skin. In severe cases, your veterinarian can monitor her heart rate and blood pressure and give warm fluids through an IV."
[[In-content Ad]]
