As the temperatures plunge, our furry family members are certainly feeling the cold the same as we are. There are a few ways to take care of your pet this winter, and your apartment community can even help with some of those tasks. Our top five tips are:
- Keep pets indoors at night and during the day, if the temperature drops too low. If it feels too cold to you, it is likely to cold for your cat or dog, too. In very cold weather, shorten your dogs’ walks. Apartment communities that offer pet concierge services know the right amount of time to walk your dog in the bad weather.
- Take care of their health. The cold weather worsens some medical conditions, such as arthritis, so it a good time to get a preventive checkup, suggests the American Veterinarian Medical Association. Pets with diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, or hormonal imbalances may also have a harder time regulating their body temperature, and may be more susceptible to problems from temperature extremes, AMVA says. Also, keep in mind that older dogs and those with arthritis may have difficulty on snow and ice and will be prone to slipping and falling. Your apartment community helps prevent these potential mishaps by keeping sidewalks and dog parks clear of snow.
- Dress your dog for the cold. Long-haired or thick-coated dogs tend to be more cold-tolerant, but are still at risk in cold weather and may need a doggie sweater, booties and other protection. Short-haired pets feel the cold faster and short-legged pets may become cold faster because their bellies and bodies are more likely to come into contact with snow-covered ground, according to the AMVA.
- Chemicals like antifreeze and salts to melt snow and ice can be poisonous to your pet or corrode the pads on your dog’s paws. Wash or wipe off your pet’s paws as soon as they come inside.
- Check your car before starting it. Cats love to climb under the hood and curl up under the warm motor or sleep somewhere on the car. You can tap your car’s hood to make sure there are no sleeping kittens there.
If you would like to find an apartment community that cares for your pets as much as you do, visit ApartmentSearch.com. We can narrow your search by location, price, and whether or not the community takes furry friends. Plus, when you tell your new apartment community that you found your apartment through ApartmentSearch.com, you can earn up to $200 in rewards! That will buy a lot of doggie sweaters and cat food!
