Keep your animals warm & safe this winter!

Because today is the first official day of winter, and it will probably only get worse from here, I've compiled some helpful tips to keep your animal companions safe, healthy, and warm this winter season.

• Keep cats indoors - Even experienced outdoor cats can be at risk of freezing, getting lost, and being killed in the cold weather conditions. Also, cats like to climb up into engines or wheel wells of cars to keep warm. This is very dangerous for you kitty friend! (TIP: Before starting your engine, bang loudly on the hood of your car a few times to give the cat a warning. I even check each wheel to make sure nobody is curled up on top!)
• Don't leave dogs outdoors - Let them out or take them for a walk only long enough to get a bit of exercise and do their business. Very young, very old, and short-haired require even less time outside and should always have supervision when outdoors in the cold. You might even consider buying a sweater or other protective weather gear for your dog.
• Thoroughly wipe your dogs’ legs and stomach when they come in to prevent freezing from snow and ice. Check their pads for ice and snow as they can bleed from the snow and ice being encrusted on them.
• Never leave your animal in a car during the cold weather. A car can act as a refrigerator, holding in the cold.
• If your dog spends a lot of time outside, increase his food — particularly protein — to keep his fur thick and healthy.
• Pets who spend a lot of time outdoors need more food in the winter because keeping warm depletes energy. Routinely check your pet's water dish to make certain the water is fresh and unfrozen. Use plastic food and water bowls rather than metal; when the temperature is low, your pet's tongue can stick and freeze to metal.
• If you spill antifreeze, clean it up right away. Even a very tiny dose is a lethal to pets. A pet-friendly antifreeze is now available for purchase. If your pet should get into antifreeze, call your vet as soon as possible.
• Never shave your dog down to the skin in the winter. Leave the coat in a longer style for more warmth. When you bathe your dog, make sure he is completely dry before taking him out in the cold.
• If your dog is an outside dog, make sure he has a dog house with plenty of straw inside to help keep him warm. Consider putting a flap on the front of the dog house to keep the cold wind out. Also consider putting the dog house up on blocks to keep it off the ground. Also, turn the opening away from the wind. The best bet is to take dogs into the house when the weather is really bad or put them in a garage.
• Remember, regardless of the actual temperature, windchill can threaten a pet's life. Just because animals have fur does not mean they are suited and prepared to live in freezing temperatures!

Your animal companions deserve to live indoors with you and your family, especially in cold and/or bad weather. They should be like members of the family, and treated as such.

Info taken from HERE and HERE.