As frigid air moves into the Chattanooga area this weekend, local veterinarians are advising pet parents to keep their four-legged friends indoors as much as possible.
“I think everybody thinks it’s going to get really cold, and that is something that we need to watch out for as far as taking care of our pets,” Dr. Jim Hammon, a veterinarian at Northgate Animal Hospital, said by phone.
Hammon said he recommends that once the temperature dips below freezing — especially if the wind is blowing — outdoor pets should be moved inside or into a garage or basement.
“If the temperature gets into the 20s or teens, they just don’t need to be outside,” he said. “They can go out to use the bathroom, of course, but they come right back in.”
The brine used to prevent ice and snow on streets and sidewalks can be harmful to pets’ paws, so he recommends people clean their pets’ paws when going inside after walking on treated surfaces.
If Chattanooga receives a few inches of snow, dogs that play outside risk having snow melt and freeze on their paws, potentially leading to frostbite or other issues, Hammon said.
“Dogs can get packs of snow trapped between their toes, and that can lead to long-term problems,” Dr. Josh Singer, veterinarian and owner of the Healthy Hound Co., said by phone. “Make sure that if they do go out, you’re cleaning their feet after and not leaving that snow packed in there.”
He also suggests clearing snow from a spot for them to use the bathroom or getting dog booties made for snow.
For pets whose main source of water is kept outdoors, Hammon recommends moving their water inside when the temperature dips below freezing.
“We’ve had some dogs that were getting a little dehydrated,” Hammon said, “just because they had no water that wasn’t frozen that they could take advantage of.”
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While most of his clients’ cats are strictly indoor pets, Hammon said cats that are allowed outside should be kept indoors when the temperature gets as low as forecasters are predicting for Monday and Tuesday.
“Close the pet door and keep your cat inside,” he said, “because at single digits in Chattanooga, that’s just really frigid.”
If power goes out, Hammon recommends staying with a friend or relative and bringing the pets along. Emergency generators and ventless gas logs are also good options to help people and pets stay warm temporarily without electricity, he said.
Contact Emily Crisman at ecrisman@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6508.