If you live near a pond or lake, be very cautious about letting your rambunctious dog off the leash. Animals can easily fall through the ice, and it is very difficult for them to escape on their own. If you must let your dogs loose near open water, stay with them at all times. If you light a fire or plug in a space heater to keep your home toasty warm, remember that the heat will be as attractive to your pets as to you. As your dog or cat snuggles up to the warmth, keep an eye out to make sure that no tails or paws come in contact with flames, heating coils, or hot surfaces.
Pets can either burn themselves or knock a heat source over and put the entire household in danger.
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. Pets that go outside can pick up rock salt, ice, and chemical ice melts in their foot pads. To keep your pet s pads from getting chapped and raw, wipe her feet with a washcloth when she comes inside.