NEW ORLEANS (2/04/09) - The Louisiana SPCA
is advising residents to include pets in their freeze plans as temperatures are
expected to dip near or below freezing for the next couple of days. Although
cold weather is not typical of our climate, the same provisions we provide for
ourselves should also be put into place for our pets.
Pet owners should
take the following precautions:
*
Pets should not be kept outdoors during the
cold weather. Adequate shelter from the elements should be provided. Like
humans, they can also suffer from hypothermia and frost bite. Ear tips are
especially susceptible to frostbite.
*
If you cannot bring your pets indoors, their
outdoor shelter should provide adequate protection from high winds and lower
temperatures. Provide them with a sheltered enclosure and include blankets and
pillows to provide them with additional warmth.
*
Be aware that puppies and kittens and senior
pets are particularly sensitive to colder temperatures and should never be left
outdoors.
*
Gas furnaces and electric heaters should not
be left on in a home unattended. It can create a fire hazard and animals left
alone cannot signal for help.
*
Beware of outdoor cats. Cats left outdoors
have a particular hazard; they often crawl into a warm car engine to get warm.
When that engine is next started up, the cat can be seriously injured or killed
by the fan blade or belt. Even, if you do not have cats be aware and make sure
that stray cats have not sought shelter from the cold by hiding under or in your
car. .
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