Winter is on the way, and that means people who own dogs and cats need to take steps to keep their furry friends safe. While most dogs and cats do have fur, they are not immune to cold temperatures, and they can develop hypothermia if they are left out too long without protection. With that in mind, here are some tips courtesy of greatplainsspca.org for keeping your pet safe during the winter:

Make sure your pet has access to some shelter
If your dog or cat likes to stay outside, they should have a doghouse or the like. Make sure the pethouse is insulated with old blankets, plastic, or foamboard to keep the pet warm. Line the floor with some kind of bedding, and make sure that bedding stays dry, for wet bedding can cause the animal to develop a fatal case of hypothermia.

Be careful with pet sweaters
While pet sweaters can help an animal stay warm, they do have some drawbacks. First off, they only work if they’re dry. If a pet sweater gets wet, the animal will get very cold very quickly. In addition, some animals, like many cats, don’t like sweaters and will get tangled up while trying to get out of them. In the worst cases, the pet can get strangled. If you put your animal in a sweater, you should go outside with them to keep an eye on them.

Know your pet’s limits
Young and healthy animals with long, thick fur can tolerate colder temperatures than other pets. If a pet is very young, very old, or has health problems, you should keep them inside. Short-legged animals like Munchkin cats or Corgis are also more sensitive to cold because their bodies have more contact with the cold ground than do those of pets with longer legs.

Consider your pet’s bathroom needs
A cat’s bathroom needs are pretty straightforward: Make sure they have a litter box or two. Most people, however, take their dogs outside to answer the call of nature. If you do this, consider getting Fido some booties to keep his feet warm. Also, keep a spot in the yard free of snow where he can do his business. If the weather is really horrible and/or your dog has health issues, get some pet pee pads for him. They come in a range of sizes for anything from a Chihuahua to a Great Dane. Some small dogs can also use a cat’s litter box.

Fleas are parasites that survive by consuming the blood of their hosts. Fleas can transmit diseases and parasites to their hosts, and they can make animals very ill if they’re severely infected. Read on to learn about how you can prevent fleas on your pets and in your home.

Prescription Flea Treatment

The best way to prevent and kill fleas on your pet is to use a prescription flea treatment every month. Before you use it, be sure to read the instructions carefully. Make sure that you understand the side effects and the proper dosage to avoid poisoning.

Maintain Your Yard

Maintaining your yard by mowing, pulling weeds and trimming your bushes will ensure that fleas and ticks stay away. Be sure to do work in your yard frequently.

Spray Your Yard

You may not want to spray your yard with flea and tick spray, but it’ll kill them and keep them away. It isn’t harmful for pets.

Combing

Comb your pet daily with a flea comb. Make sure to place a white towel or sheet underneath your pet to see if fleas or dried blood come out of your pet’s fur. Once you’re done, flush it all down the toilet.

Bathing

You can use a flea or tick shampoo to get rid of the parasites in your pet’s fur. Warm water will help your pet’s skin irritation and reduce itching. If your pet is severely suffering from itching, use an oatmeal bath after using shampoo.

Vacuum

Be sure to vacuum your home frequently. Be sure to vacuum your carpet, area rugs, bare floors, furniture, pillows and bedding. If your vacuum comes with a crevice tool or other attachments, use them. Vacuum every crevice in your home. Fleas and ticks can be hiding under furniture and beds. Once you’re done vacuuming, dump what your vacuum picked up in a covered garbage bag. Don’t put the bag in your trash can.

Final Words

Fleas and ticks will make you and your pet miserable. Flea bites look similar to mosquito bites, but they’re usually smaller. The most common symptoms of flea bites on humans include extreme itching, redness and swelling. Some humans experience an allergic reaction if they get bit by a flea, and they’ll likely experience a rash and hives. Lavender oil and peppermint oil are good treatment options to use if you get bit by a flea or tick.

If you have recently gotten a new kitten or puppy, one of the most important health decisions you can make is to have him or her neutered or spayed. Spaying, the removal of the ovaries and uterus in female pets, provides lifelong health benefits while neutering, the removal of the testicles on male pets, reduces behavioral issues and protects against certain types of cancers.

Spaying Reduces the Risk of Health Problems

Spaying a female cat or dog prevents uterine infections. It also helps prevent malignant (cancerous) breast tumors in 50% or dogs and 90% of cats. Getting your cat or dog spayed before her first heat cycle provides the best protection against uterine infections and breast cancer.

Neutering Prevents Diseases, Too

Neutering your male pet prevents the development of testicular cancer. It also prevents some prostate issues.

Spaying Eliminates the Heat Cycle

Heat cycles may vary some, but in general, female cats are in heat for four to five days every three weeks during breeding season. To attract a mate, female cats will yowl and urinate more often. It’s not uncommon for a female cat in heat to urinate throughout your home.

Neutering Reduces Behavior Problems in Males

Male cats and dogs will do just about anything to find a female to mate with. If your male pet happens to get free, he’s prone to injury and fights with other males. Neutered males aren’t tempted to escape your home or yard.

An unaltered male dog may urinate to mark his territory. Getting him neutered will reduce or even eliminate this behavior. An unaltered male cat has a strong desire to spray. Getting your kitten neutered before he turns four months old is best, given that kittens younger than four months of age haven’t begun to spray yet. Neutering resolves 90% of spraying in male cats, even if they have been spraying for a while already.

Neutering a male dog also reduces aggressive behavior. Research indicates that most dog bites are caused by unaltered males. Neutering also reduces mounting, barking, and other dominance-related behaviors.

Saves Money

Spaying or neutering your pet saves you money. Unaltered males are more likely to fight each other, which often leads to costly veterinary bills to treat a pet’s injuries. Additionally, reproductive cancers cost thousands of dollars to treat. If the cost of a spay or neuter surgery is a concern for you, check out low-cost spay and neuter clinics in your area.

Reduces Pet Overpopulation

Millions of cats and dogs of all breeds and ages are euthanized each year in shelters. You can easily prevent unplanned litters by getting your pet spayed or neutered.

Spaying or neutering your cat or dog is very beneficial to your pet. With a simple spay or neuter surgery, you can help your pet live a healthier life, reduce behavioral issues, and help control pet overpopulation.