During the cold winter months, both humans and animals can suffer from cold-related injuries such as frostbite, but while humans usually can get out of the cold somehow, it's a lot more difficult for animals such as cats and dogs.

Despite having furry coats to keep them warm in harsh weather, exposed patches of skin, such as the tips of their ears of the pads of their feet, are still in danger of being affected by the cold. Practice manager at the Airdrie Animal Centre Vicki Fitzpatrick says that it's possible for pets to suffer from frostbite in those areas.

"The most common one people will notice is their ears and their paws will tend to show a little bit of inflammation with some redness which could be a clinical sign of some frostbite. Some animals are very good about trying to hide it from owners, so some families will notice some increased licking between the paws especially if there's a lot of areas with ice that people have placed salt."

Even if the snow or cold is not that damaging, the addition of salt used to melt ice could irritate the sensitive skin on the pads of their feet. Fitzpatrick suggests watching for signs that the animal is uncomfortable.

"A lot of times the salt will stick to the feet as well and that can cause more irritation and some issues to the canine so some owners will start to see behavioral changes like just being uncomfortable, licking the paws, scratching, rubbing and moving around a little bit more."

If you're looking for a way to keep your furry friends warm, a simple and somewhat adorable solution is to dress them in sweaters and booties to protect them from the cold.

"A lot more families are looking at being more fashionable with dressing up their canines with booties. They have sweaters now (as well) and they have certainly come a long way to help owners make their pets look fashionable but most of all stay warm throughout the holiday season."

Sometimes, the option to bring dogs in from the cold is not always possible. Working farm dogs tend to stay outside for most of their lives, and as such are much more likely to battle with the cold. However, farmers have been using various ways to keep their animal employees safe from the winter weather.

"Through communications with a lot of the farmers in rural communities, because they do have accessibility to hay they've come a long way with providing better bedding. Sometimes its a bale of hay that has been placed out for warmth and with a blanket, sometimes within a barn. A lot of the farmers have come a long way with trying to ensure that their hard-working animals on the farm are all looked after and kept warm through those cold seasons."

If a pet is unfortunate enough to come into contact with frostbite, it is suggested that they are taken to a veterinarian immediately to determine the severity of the condition. If let alone, it can result in some serious harm to the animal.

"The first step would be to see their local veterinarian to determine the severity of the frostbite. Some felines and canines have lost the tips of their ears over my years (here) if left untreated for any length of time. Now, certainly on the level of frostbite, it can vary on an individual case by case basis, but we do normally recommend visiting your current veterinarian or if you don't have one, find one that's close to you to have them take a look and examine the concerns and spots before treatment."

 

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