Winter time is hard for everyone; even our furry family members. It is hard to get out and about when it is cold outside. It is still possible though. With the right equipment, planning and weather watching you can still make your way into the outdoors.
Weather watching is the most important part of making sure you and your furbabies have a safe and fun time. Always keep an eye on your local weather forecast before making new plans. You don't want to get caught in a blizzard, rain or too cold of weather. Make sure if you are travelling to watch the forecast for the area you are headed to as well! As a Canadian I definitely understand how travelling even just 1 hour away the weather can be drastically different; especially if you live on prairies or in mountains. This will also help you prepare the right equipment and supplies for the type of trip you want to take. My local weather is on the link below but you can search your city:
That brings us to planning. Just what type of trip do you want to take? Are you going hiking? Survival style camping? How about just a walk around the block or to the local park? No matter what type of outing you decide you still have to plan and be prepared. If you decide to travelling, especially if you're going alone with your pet make sure you let someone know these three things: When you are leaving, When you are coming back and where it is that you are going. This also means hotels, routes, and checking in regularly if possible. Always be as safe as you can when travelling alone. You can watch the forecast, have an itinerary and still have something unexpected happen.
Now that you have your plan made up and your forecast in mind it is time to get your equipment together. Is it as simple as a leash and a ball or do you need to pack food, water, clothing and shelter? For a walk around the block usually a leash is good enough but if it is windy or just cold in general don't forget to dress your dog up. A coat and booties may be necessary to protect them from getting frostbite or too cold. Also consider their size. Can your beagle usually make 5 blocks? Great! However, maybe it is too cold to go that long. Consider adjusting your route if this is the case. Many times if you are cold, especially if you dressed properly, then they are cold too. If you are going on a multi-day journey or hiking then of course you must make sure you bring water, food, bowls and some sort of shelter for you and your dogs. A great asset is a firstaid kit as well. It should be equipped with plenty of bandaging, cleaning and other emergency supplies for you and your pet(s).
Cats are a completely different thought. Many people allow their cats to come and go in and out as they please. There are quite a few people who don't realize that many felines don't take the time to consider how cold it is or where they are going for that matter. It is important that if you know the weather is/will be cold or a storm is coming that you do not allow your cats to go outside. Many cats will panic and get lost in a storm, they may crawl into unsafe places to keep warm, suffer frostbite, hypothermia or even get frozen to the ground. Some favorite places cats like to hide are under car hoods or in the wheel wells, in compact spaces like under decks or between walls and other objects. They can get stuck or scared and get severely hurt in these situations. This is why many people knock on their vehicles before getting in them.
If you find a cat you suspect has sustained cold injuries it is extremely important to get them to a vet or shelter as soon as possible. Do not try to warm them up too quickly as doing so can put them into shock which can be fatal. The veterinarian, technologist or shelter worker will check the cat (or dog for that matter) over, check them for tattoos or microchips and rehabilitate them and care for sustained injuries.
If you find a cat you suspect has sustained cold injuries it is extremely important to get them to a vet or shelter as soon as possible. Do not try to warm them up too quickly as doing so can put them into shock which can be fatal. The veterinarian, technologist or shelter worker will check the cat (or dog for that matter) over, check them for tattoos or microchips and rehabilitate them and care for sustained injuries.