MIAMI VALLEY — As temperatures drop and it becomes bitterly cold, the safety of our pets can be at risk.
Like humans, pets can experience hypothermia and frostbite — their ears and paws are often the first to freeze.
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Keep pets away from ice-melting chemicals such as antifreeze that they could eat or lick of their paws.
Julie Holmes-Taylor, director of Greene County Animal Control, told News Center 7′s Gabrielle Enright that even pets that live outside need to have proper care.
According to Holmes-Taylor state law does require that pets have food, water and shelter but it’s important these are adequate for the animal and the conditions.
It’s important that your pets have a lot of fresh water, Holmes-Taylor said many believe that their animal can just rely on melted snow or ice but this can cause animals to dehydrate quickly as it takes more energy to convert to water.
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Pets can also tear muscles on break bones when falling on ice and keep pets away from frozen bodies where drowning is a risk.
If it’s too cold for you to be outside, chances are its too cold for your pet.