Surviving a Chicago Winter: Pet Edition

by freeandflawed - January 12, 2009

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A winter in Chicago is difficult for a human, so imagine what our pets go through every morning when we let them out. While researching the topic I learned a lot about keeping our little furry friends comfortable when the temperature drops.

Get a check-up

Just like humans, our pets can be vulnerable to the cruelties of a Chicago winter. Be sure to take your dog into the vet to get a check-up. That way you’re aware of any medical problems that would make them more vulnerable to the cold temperatures.

Animals that are not generally in good health shouldn’t be exposed to winter weather for a long period of time. Very young and very old animals are vulnerable to the cold as well.

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Anti-Cruelty Society the

157 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60654

Many can’t afford to bring their pets to a private vet. The Anti-Cruelty Society offers a low-cost spay/neuter clinic, rehabilitation and treatment center and dog training classes. The ACS also holds a wide variety of events for the community throughout the year.

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Check the breed

Some animals can remain outside safely longer in the winter than others. Long-haired breeds like Huskies will do better in cold weather than short-haired breeds. Cats and smaller dogs will feel the cold faster because more of their body is surrounded by snow than that of a bigger dog.

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Keep them on a leash

If you take your cat or dog outside, be sure to keep them on a leash – especially if you live near a lake or pond. If they get loose, there’s a chance they could be walking on thin ice (pun intended!) Animals easily fall through the ice and it is difficult for them to get out on their own.

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Petsmart

6655 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60707

Petsmart is affordable and they offer a pretty good selection of cute collars and leashes for dogs and cats.

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Wipe off their paws

When your pets go outside, their precious little paws are exposed to rock salt and ice. This can melt into their foot pads, which causes them to get raw and chapped. To prevent this, be sure to wipe their paws off with a towel when they come inside. This will also prevent them from licking their paws and getting salt in their digestive tract.

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Putting a sweater on your dog only helps a little bit. Most dogs lose heat from the pads of their feet, ears and respiratory tract. Be sure to keep an eye on them when they’re outside in cold weather. If they look uncomfortable, bring them in.

If they whine, shiver, seem anxious, slow down or stop moving, or start to look for warm places to burrow, they’re saying they want to get back someplace warm.

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Tails In the City

1 E Delaware Pl Ste 3, Chicago, IL 60611

Tails in the City has a large selection of dog sweaters, treats, toys, etc. It’s been getting rave reviews from some of my friends. Part of the money you spend at Tails is donated to PAWS.

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Keep them inside

Keep your pets inside as much as you can when the temperature drops. If you have to take them out, stay outside with them. When you’re cold enough to go inside, they probably are too.

“If you absolutely must leave them outside for a significant length of time, make sure they have a warm, solid shelter against the wind, thick bedding, and plenty of non-frozen water. Try leaving out a hot water bottle, wrapped in a towel so it won’t burn your pet’s skin.”

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Urban Out Sitters

729 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60661

Now you don’t have to feel bad about leaving the pup at home alone. There are a few dog walking agencies in Chicago, but during the winter they can’t really enjoy being outside. Take them to a Doggy Day Care like Urband Out Sitters. They’re open weekdays and Saturdays and are one of Chicago’s most recommended no-cage day care facilities. They also have dog walking and boarding in addition to day care.

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Houndry the

3945 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60613

Another option is The Houndry. They’re open all week, including weekends. They play groups are small to ensure a fun and safe environment. The handlers are extremely attentive and treat the dogs as if they were their own.

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Anyone with a cat knows that they like to curl up against anything warm. Unless you have a cat like mine who likes to make a bed out of a cardboard box top. Many stray cats tend to curl up against car engines. Cats caught in there can be seriously injured or killed. Before starting the car, check beneath it or make a loud noise, a honk of the horn should work, to make sure the cat moves.

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Get your furnace checked

“It’s a good idea to have your furnace checked for carbon monoxide leakage before you turn it on, both for your pets’ health and your own. Carbon monoxide is odorless and invisible, but it can cause problems ranging from headaches and fatigue to trouble breathing. Pets generally spend more time in the home than owners, particularly in the winter, so they are more vulnerable to monoxide poisoning than the rest of the family.”

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Perri Aire Inc

Chicago, Chicago, IL 60646

Perri Aire is a heating and air conditioning service in Chicago. If you’re thinking about getting your furnace checked, give them a ring.

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Frostbite

Frostbite happens when an animal’s (or a person’s) body gets cold and pulls all the blood from the extremities to the center of the body to stay warm. The animal’s ears, paws, or tail can get cold enough that ice crystals can form in the tissue and damage it. Unfortunately, frostbite is not immediately obvious. The tissue doesn’t show signs of the damage to it for several days.

If you think your pet may have frostbite, bring them into a warm environment right away. You can soak their extremities in warm water for about 20 minutes to melt the ice crystals and restore circulation. It’s important that you don’t rub the frostbitten tissue, however—the ice crystals can do a lot of damage to the tissue. Once your pet is warm, wrap them up in some blankets and take them to the veterinarian. From there, the veterinarian can assess the damage and treat your pet for pain or infection if necessary.

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Hypothermia

Hypothermia, or a body temperature that is below normal, is a condition that occurs when an animal is not able to keep their body temperature from falling below normal. It happens when animals spend too much time in cold temperatures, or when animals with poor health or circulation are exposed to cold. In mild cases, animals will shiver and show signs of depression, lethargy, and weakness. As the condition progresses, an animal’s muscles will stiffen, her heart and breathing rates will slow down, and she will stop responding to stimuli.

If you notice these symptoms, you need to get your pet warm and take them to your veterinarian. You can wrap them in blankets, possibly with a hot water bottle or an electric blanket—as always, wrapped in fabric to prevent against burning the skin. In severe cases, your veterinarian can monitor their heart rate and blood pressure and give warm fluids through an IV.

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: by Lou 01/12/2009 Reply

Thanks for the good tips. Lots I did not realize. I will make sure my little poof of a dog stays warm & safe!

: by aliciak 01/12/2009 Reply

Awww that pic of the pup looking out the window is adorable!

: by ElGuapo 01/12/2009 Reply

get poochie prepared. It’s supposed to be minus 3 on thursday.

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About The Author

freeandflawed

Harwood Heights, IL

Jennifer is a 20-something blogger from Chicago. She loves being challenged, which is why you can usually find her sharing her love for all things geek here at Guidespot, maintaining two of her own blogs & and organizing meetups for Chicago bloggers. As if that weren't enough, she is also the S...