Winter Hazards for Pets

As the daylight wanes and temperatures drop this time of year in New England, here are some tips to help keep pets safe throughout the winter.

• Have a working smoke and carbon dioxide detector, ideally connected to your smart phone so you will receive notification if dangerous levels of smoke or CO2 are detected.
• Watch out for excessive chocolates and fatty foods, which seem more prevalent around holiday and new year celebrations.
• Poinsettias are not that toxic. Eating leaves could cause digestive issues, but doing so is rarely fatal.
• Make sure lakes and ponds freeze completely before walking on them.
• Acclimating to the cold can sometimes take a while for dogs. If your pet does not have thick fur, they should wear a coat to enjoy time outside when temperatures drop below 15 degrees F.
• Always use pet-friendly ice melt to avoid aggravating the pads of your dog’s feet. Using regular ice melt can also be dangerous, if ingested.
• Beware of antifreeze. It is poisonous and fatal to pets in small amounts.

Dr. Elizabeth Rozanski is an associate professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences and a member of the Henry and Lois Foster Hospital for Small Animals' Emergency and Critical Care