It is a common misconception that pets can withstand winter because they have fur coats. Pets need special care to keep them healthy and safe during the colder months. Follow these pet care tips from Trilby Animal Hospital in Toledo to keep your furry friend safe and healthy every winter.

Keep Giving Parasite Prevention

Although heartworms are transmitted to pets through mosquitoes, heartworms do not die off when mosquito season ends. Juvenile heartworms can live in your pet’s warm blood all through the winter. Flea eggs hatch in the warm conditions that indoor heating provides. This is why it is important to keep giving parasite prevention medication from your veterinarian throughout the year.

Dog Walking in the Winter

Walking your dog can be challenging during the winter. Never walk your dog when it is below freezing. Check your dog’s paws for ice balls or burns from ice melt when you get home. Dogs may need sweaters or jackets to handle the cold. If your dog starts shivering, it is time to head back inside.

Keep Active Indoors

Even if it is too cold to be outside, give your dog exercise and mental stimulation by training a new trick or reinforcing old commands like sit and stay. Take time to play with your cat every day to keep your feline at a healthy weight. Try rubbing cat toys with catnip to help your cats gain a new interest in old toys.

Find an Emergency Animal Hospital

If you haven’t already, find a veterinarian in your area that accepts patients 24/7. If your current veterinarian does not have emergency hours, ask for a recommendation for one that does. Your vet will be happy to help you locate one. When you get the name and address, take a drive there to familiarize yourself with the route. That will be one less thing to worry about during a pet emergency.

Contact Trilby Animal Hospital in Toledo, OH

If you have questions about how to keep your pet healthy throughout the year and live in the Toledo area, contact Trilby Animal Hospital for more tips or to schedule an appointment. Call Dr. Moore today at (419) 474-5403 or reach us through our website by using our online contact form.