South Bellmore Veterinary Group Review: Tips on how to guarantee the safety of your pets during the cold season

South Bellmore Veterinary Group Review

Tips on how to guarantee the safety of your pets during

the cold season

Harmful weather conditions like extreme colds can be difficult to animals as well so as a
pet parent, you need to make sure that your pets were always protected against the
drop in temperatures. You can’t steer clear of the dangers of cruel winter storms, but
what you can do is to be fully prepared to protect everyone dear to you including your
adored animals.

Since its beginnings, South Bellmore Veterinary Group has been committed to helping
pet owners in ensuring the best health of their pets through its reliable service and pet
care tips, thus this post prepared by the group specifically aims to help pet owners in
keeping their pet safe during winter.

First is to check if all your pets are indoors during cold seasons, especially the short-
haired ones. Cats need shelter during extremely cold temperatures so better keep them
warm inside your home. South Bellmore Veterinary Group advises building a draft-free
shelter for your dog to have its body temperature inside and make sure that the place
still allows the pet to at least move around even with a limited space. The shelter also
needs insulation, so better add straw or cedar shavings as well as something that could
cover its entrance.

Secondly, electrical cords should be checked twice to prevent a fire, especially the cords
of devices that warm water bowls. Avoid using heat lamps near dry bedding materials to
prevent accidents from happening that could start a fire.

The third is to list all the things to include in the emergency kit of your pets. We can’t
prevent emergencies to happen especially during critical weather conditions like winter
storms, so make sure to equip important things for your pet’s emergency kit. First on

the list are the basic needs of your pets such as food and water, so make sure to store at
least a three-day supply for both needs, and keep the foods in an airtight and
waterproof container.

In addition, make sure to secure the medicines and medical records of your pet along
with other important documents such as its registration information, adoption papers,
and vaccination documents. Some experts add that you should also consider
microchipping your pet and carefully discuss it with your veterinarian to enroll your pet
in a recovery database.

Double check if you have enough stock on your pets’ first aid kit as well, see to it that
you have cotton bandage rolls, bandage tape, bandage scissors, latex gloves, isopropyl
alcohol, a saline solution together with antibiotic ointment, and flea and tick prevention.
Do the right first aid to your pets with the help of a reference book.

Prepare your pet’s collar or harness with ID tag, rabies tag, and a leash too. In case the
situation got worse and your family is required to evacuate, ensure that you have a well-
made and a safe crate or carrier for your pet. Moreover, keep that picture of you and
your pet to quickly document ownership once you’ve become separated from one
another. You can also get the help of other people using the photo but don’t forget to
include the distinct characteristics of your pet such as its gender, age, breed, color, and
species.

Collect all the favorite items of your pet as well and use them to help calm down the
fear or too much stress on your dog or cat. Remember to gather newspapers, paper
towels, plastic trash bags and household chlorine bleach for the proper sanitation of
your pet’s litter box. In the case of exotic pets, make sure to have the right bedding and
habitat materials that suit their special needs.

You can prevent your pets from having frostbite and hypothermia by giving them a good
sweater specifically the short-haired animals that really need to be protected from the
extreme cold weather. Use a damp cloth in wiping all the paws of your pet in case you
use rock salt or other chemicals in melting the snow and ice outside your house because
such substances can irritate your pet’s paw pads.

Don’t let other animals as well to stay outside and be exposed to severe cold, so it is
best to report their presence to the local authorities. South Bellmore Veterinary Group
would like you to treat each pet around you with care and the existence of those
animals abandoned by their owners on the cold weather should be reported to the
animal care or the local authorities in your neighborhood.