Tips from a Local Vet to Protect Your Pet This Winter

Michel Selmer, DVM of Advanced Animal Care Center in Huntington Station offers up some of his tips for "winterizing your pet" in order to protect your animals this winter season.

The weather affects pets all year long, particularly those kept outside. Selmer and Advanced Animal Care Center do not recommend that pets are kept solely outside, but if that your policy, he recommends that you check the shelter now to ensure it is adequate for the freezing temperatures.

"Animals must be able to get out of the elements. A pet must have a well-insulated structure just large enough so that he can curl up inside to maintain body heat. The structure should also have a wind-block to protect it from wintry blasts, and a outdoor-rated pet-heating pad. And be sure that there's always a supply of fresh, unfrozen water by using a heated bowl," he said in his "winterize your pet" guidelines.

Food is also important at this point in time, since animals use it as fuels, so if your animal stays outside all the time you should feed them a little extra during the winter.

Even if you don't have a pet, you should "thump on your car roof in the winter," Semler said because cats may be nestled under the engine for warmth and a quick thump will allow the cat to get out safely.

For indoor pets, Selmer said, there aren't as many challenges, however he does have several tips.

• For pets with arthritis, a vitamin or other supplement from your veterainary can help ease their discomfort this time of the year.
• For older pets, a heated bed may also ease any discomfort they are feeling this time of year.
• Sweaters can help some pets who are tiny, short-haired or naturally lean.
• When coming in from a walk, remember to wash your pet's legs and feet to clear their fur and hair of any de-icing solution which could hurt them if ingested.

Selmer also has a variety of resources, including a blog, on his website to help you care for your pet all year long.

Note: An earlier version of this story misspelled the name of the veterinarian.