Pets and the People Who Love Them for 10/18/17

Published 12:30 pm Wednesday, October 18, 2017

I am delighted to see the daytime temperatures move from summer to autumn, but the nighttime temps are falling a little too quickly for my comfort.

Instead of the 50s and 60s I would have expected, the experts are forecasting lows in the 40s and that is downright chilly. We, of course, will be in our climate-controlled homes. Can we say the same for our pets?

According to the Alabama Veterinary Medical Association, puppies, kittens and short-haired pets should come indoors when the temperatures fall into the 40s. Long-haired pets should be properly groomed as they cannot keep themselves warm with matted coats.

Pets who must stay outside should have well-constructed houses with three full sides, elevated off the ground and filled with plenty of bedding, such as straw. The houses should be just large enough for your pet to comfortably get in and out and lie down. An overly large house takes more time to warm from your pet’s body heat and doesn’t maintain the heat as well as a house that properly fits his needs.

ALVMA also recommends that you pound on the hood of a vehicle kept outside before starting it, as a cat may have crawled up under the hood to warm itself near the engine and starting the vehicle could injure or kill him. Having lost a beloved cat in this manner, I can assure you such a simple routine will be well worth your while.

As you prepare your vehicles for cold weather, remember that antifreeze tastes sweet to animals and can kill them. If you spill antifreeze, flush the area with water, sweep the water onto a rocky or sandy area, then cover with dirt. Seek immediate medical attention for any animal that ingests antifreeze.

This time of year, we begin to use furnaces, fireplaces and space heaters to combat the cold, so remember to protect your pets from getting too close and suffering burns.

When the temperatures dip, my aches and pains increase, and your pets may also experience more than an occasional twinge from arthritis. There are great medications available to help keep your dog or cat comfortable, so talk to your veterinarian to decide what is best for your furry family members.

Please consider making your outside pet an inside pet. The companionship will benefit both of you, and you will be giving him a more engaged and fulfilling life. Don’t we all deserve that?

— Pets and the People Who Love Them is brought to you by your friends at the Athens Limestone Animal Shelter. To adopt a dog or cat, please visit the Athens-Limestone Animal Shelter at 1701 U.S. 72 (behind Limestone Veterinary Clinic), visit our Facebook page or call us at 256-771-7889. Email your questions and story ideas to me at PetsAndPeople@charter.net, and I’ll check with the experts (veterinarians, animal behaviorists, etc.) and get back to you in a future column.