I am including some suggestions to help keep your pet safe and comfortable as they accompany you through the cold winter weather. A sweater or coat can help keep your pet warm while they are outside. Booties can help protect their feet from mud and ice melting chemicals. If they do not or cannot wear booties, be sure to wipe their feet off when they come inside to both keep them from leaving footprints and to clean off anything they may have stepped in while they were outside. If you have an outside pet, be sure they have protected shelter from wind and wet weather and unfrozen drinking water. In extreme cold, bring them inside. Prepare for an extended power outage by having an emergency kit with food, water, any medications they need and blankets to keep them warm. When your inside pet goes outside for exercise during the winter months, be aware of how much cold they can tolerate and remember they will be using more energy and you may need to shorten your walks so they do not get too fatigued. On your walks, stay away from ponds, lakes, and streams so your pet does not get into trouble in the water. Be alert in case they may decide chasing a duck or goose onto an icy pond. They might think it is fun but can be deadly for them if they break through ice. Antifreeze will cause kidney failure and result in death if it is taken internally so clean up any spills or pooling of it immediately. It has a sweet taste and the animals do not know it is harmful to them. A warm engine can be attractive to outdoor cats (and other critters) so check under your car and make some noise before starting your engine to be sure nothing is trapped under the hood. Never leave your pet unattended in your vehicle. You may be away from it longer than planned and the cold is dangerous to them just as leaving them in a hot car in the summer can be dangerous.

As the weather changes from cold winter to warm and wet springtime, a few things come to mind to be aware of to keep your pets safe and more comfortable.