Just like us, our pets can feel the cold during the winter months. They rely on us to give them extra care to protect them from the cold temperatures and viruses that can trigger common winter illnesses.

We know you want to protect your cats, dogs and rabbits from symptoms like coughing, runny noses and fever. But wintry weather can also bring hazards like hypothermia, frostbite and antifreeze poisoning. It can also make a pet’s arthritis symptoms worse. Here’s what to do when the temperature drops!

Colds and Coughs in Dogs

Many viral diseases that cause colds and coughs are common in cold weather. Dogs can suffer from dog ‘colds’ but they won’t pass them onto us, and they won’t be infected by our cold and flu viruses. If they have the sniffles, keep them warm and give them plenty of water to keep their fluids up. It’s usually nothing serious but if your pet develops breathing difficulties or stops eating, then make an appointment with your vet.

Kennel cough, also known as Canine infectious respiratory disease complex (CIRDC) or acute tracheobronchitis is highly contagious. The disease is caused by a combination of viruses and bacteria, including canine parainfluenza virus, canine adenovirus and Bordetella bronchiseptica. If one dog in a kennel has it, the cough will spread rapidly.

Most kennels will insist that every dog is vaccinated against kennel cough before entering the kennel. An intranasal vaccination is usually given 14 days before the dog goes into kennels. Most affected dogs are only unwell for a couple of days, but the hacking cough usually lasting 2-3 weeks. If your dog has kennel cough, they need to be isolated from other dogs to stop the disease from spreading.

What About Cat Flu?

If your cat has a runny nose and eyes, sneezing, coughing, has a fever and are off they’re food, your cat may have cat flu (viral-induced upper respiratory tract disease). Most cats recover after a few weeks, but the disease can be more serious in young kittens, older cats and those with other conditions that weaken their immune system. The flu vaccine is included as part of your cat’s yearly vaccination programme, so should be protected if you keep them up to date.

Defending Against Hypothermia in Pets

When temperatures drop, some pets have thick coats to keep them warm. Others only have thin coats (or none in hairless breeds), so some dogs and cats will need help to maintain their body temperature. The normal range is between 37.7°C and 39.2°C. The normal body temperature for a rabbit is 38.5-40°C.

When a pet’s body temperature drops below normal, hypothermia can set in. Newborn puppies, kittens and bunnies are especially at risk as their temperature regulation systems are still developing and have a large surface area to volume ratio. Elderly and sick pets are also at risk.

The symptoms of hypothermia include tiredness, shivering, low blood pressure, muscle stiffness, pale skin, shallow breathing and fixed, and dilated pupils in severe cases. While shivering and lethargy can be associated with other conditions, in colder climates shivering will generate heat and raise the body temperature.

Small, short-haired dogs like the Dachshund and Chihuahua are susceptible to the cold. To keep your pet warm, put on a cosy jumper or coat. Greyhounds and whippets are also less tolerant of cold weather and may need to wear a coat when it's wet and cold.

When it’s very cold outside, bring any outdoor cats inside or make sure they can access somewhere dry and warm. It’s not unknown for a cat to crawl inside a car’s engine to keep warm so it may be worthing checking under the bonnet before you start the car.

Rabbits can tolerate the cold very well, but wet conditions can make them uncomfortable, especially for older bunnies with arthritis. Make sure your rabbit’s hutch is waterproof and in a sheltered spot (can be moved to a shed or garage if needed).

Remove any wet or soiled bedding daily and give them some extra bedding to keep them warm. A companion will also keep them warm. And check that their water bowl or bottle hasn’t frozen!

How to Treat Frostbite in Pets

Prolonged exposure to freezing pavements or metal can leave pets with frostbite. This happens when blood flow from the extremities of your pet's body (paws, ears, tail, nose, eyelids) is redirected to their vital organs. This drop in blood flow can result in signs of frostbite including tissue damage. In mild cases, the tissues will recover with little permanent damage.

Move your pet to somewhere warm and use a warm towel or a warm water compress to gently thaw out the affected areas. Never use direct heat or rub the frost-bitten tissues. Frostbite can be very painful. In severe cases, the skin may appear blackened and die.

Frostbite may be accompanied by hypothermia so call your vet for advice if you’re concerned. Further treatment including amputation or removal of the dead (necrotic) skin may be needed.

You can protect your pet's paws with booties, these will also help prevent any salt or grit getting in their paws

Antifreeze (Ethylene Glycol) Poisoning

Ethylene glycol is commonly used as an antifreeze agent and added to car radiators and window washing fluid. It has a sweet taste which cats in particular love, the downside is that it’s highly toxic to cats even in very small quantities. If any is spilt on the ground or lying around in the garage, they’ll lap it up.

Symptoms of antifreeze poisoning include nausea, vomiting, wobbling, seizures and it can lead to a coma. If you suspect your pet has ingested any, immediate veterinary attention is needed. Cats that are treated within 3 hours of ingestion may survive but if treatment is delayed, almost all will die.

Keep any bottles of antifreeze or screen wash out of your pet’s reach and don’t let your pet lick puddles which may contain spillages.

To keep our pets safe and warm this winter, we need to prevent antifreeze poisoning, watch out for signs of hypothermia and frostbite on any long winter walks. Rabbits may need extra bedding to keep them warm. Small, short-haired dogs may need to wear a warm jumper, coat and boots when it’s too chilly outside. And by making sure our pets are up to date with vaccinations and fed a well-balanced diet, you’ll help to protect them from common winter illness.

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Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Canis - www.vetstream.com/treat/canis, Felis www.vetlexicon.com/treat/felis, and Lapis www.vetlexicon.com/treat/lapis

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