Every season of the year has potential risks for pets, but winter can be extremely dangerous if you don’t take the necessary precautions to keep your pets safe. You may not know it, but even with that thick fur, pets can get hypothermia just like people. To keep your pets safe this winter, follow these three steps. Your pets will thank you for it.

Make Sure They’re Warm

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Whether you let your dog run around in the backyard all day or your cat loves to go off on outdoor adventures, you need to limit their outdoor time during the colder months. While cats and dogs have thick fur that helps protect them from colder climates, they still face the very serious risk of hypothermia if left out in the cold for too long. Make sure your pet stays dry and warm during the winter months by bringing him inside. If you have to leave your pets outside for any reason make sure you have a covered, insulated shelter free from drafts that they can easily access as well as fresh water.

Clean Off Your Roof

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If you live in an area that gets a lot of snow or ice, keeping your roof and gutters clean is essential to keeping your pets safe. While you should never leave your pets outside unattended for long periods of time during the winter, there may be times when your pet needs to be in your backyard. If this is the case, you need to make sure your backyard is as safe as possible for your pet and that means keeping your roof and gutters clear of snow and ice. Winter roof safety is extremely important when it comes to keeping your pets safe. Icicles or ice dams can fall from your gutters and onto your pet; hurting or even killing them. Similarly, snow can fall off the roof and cover your pet, potentially causing hypothermia or suffocation.

Make a Path

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While many dogs love bounding through snow banks, you need to keep a clear path in your backyard for your dog so he can easily do his business without freezing. Shovel out a small area of your backyard for your dog so he doesn’t have to get covered in snow. This is especially important if you have a smaller dog that can get lost in the snow. Before you let your dog back in, always be sure to towel him off to make sure he stays dry and warm. If you need to use ice melt anywhere around your home, be sure it is pet-friendly. Most ice melts have many chemicals that are harmful to pets if ingested or even if the pet comes in contact with them, so be sure you use a product that is safe for pets.