Dog Houses New York NY

Your dog’s winter coat is not enough to shelter him from extreme cold. According to the California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA), pets can be extremely vulnerable in the winter months if they are exposed to cold weather and potentially dangerous elements found in and around their owners' homes.

"Cars, antifreeze, heaters and wood stoves can be death traps for animals if pet owners are not careful," says Dr. Jeff Smith, president of the CVMA. "Even inside a house or apartment, though it may be warmer, dangers are present. Anything with an electrical cord or heat source, which may provide extra warmth for humans in the winter, may be dangerous to the average pet."

The CVMA asks that pet owners heed the following warnings when it comes to protecting their pets from a cold environment:

• Keep antifreeze away from pets. Dogs and cats like the sweet taste and smell of the chemical, but ethanol glycol-based antifreeze is highly poisonous. That's why some states have required that a bittering agent be added to antifreeze to make it taste unpleasant.
• Bang on your car before starting the engine. Outdoor cats often will curl up into the wheel wells and engine compartments for warmth and they could get trapped.
• Don't play near frozen lakes, rivers or ponds. People and pets alike risk slipping in and drowning.
• Protect animals from wood stoves and portable heaters. Cats can jump on top of them, causing burns to their paws.
• Keep nails clipped. Shorter nails allow for be...

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