A Dartmouth veterinary technician’s tips for keeping pets active and warm through winter

A registered veterinary technician shares how to keep your pets active during the colder winter months.

When cold and snowy weather envelop the Maritimes it can be hard to enjoy the outdoors, but for pets and their owners, getting outside for exercise is essential.

Michelle Doane is a registered veterinary technician at Tartan Tails Veterinary Hospital. She said there are some things dog owners can do to encourage them to get outside even when it’s cold. She recommends a coat for short-haired breeds and boots for dogs who don’t like cold paws.

“Recommend training them into the boots first,” Doane said. “They’re not really practical if they just kick them off.”

Doane said there are other hazards to be aware of that can cause harm to pets in winter.

“The salt can hurt their paws,” Doane said. “There’s also chemicals that are used in winter that aren’t necessarily year-round.” Doane said antifreeze and salts could be toxic if consumed.

Some pets could be vulnerable to the cold itself. Doane said pet owners should take their pets in if they show signs of frostbite or hypothermia.

“If they’re shivering, if the tips of their ears are cold, if they start getting really lethargic, that should be a sign that you should probably head in.”

Doane said cats should also be monitored if they spend time outside and brought inside in the event of a storm.

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