How to keep your pets safe during winter weather

WASHINGTON — With the winter season upon us and bitter cold temperatures across the region, you may be wondering the best ways to keep your four-legged loved ones safe from the cold.

TheASPCA has a list of tipsto help you and your pet combat the winter weather:

Keep your pets warm & dry

• Keep your home humidified and towel dry your pet as soon as they come inside: Repeatedly coming out of the cold into the dry heat of your home can cause itchy, flaking skin. Also, pay attention to your animal's feet and in-between the toes, and remove any snowballs from between their foot pads.

• Never shave your pet down to the skin: A longer coat will provide more warmth. If your pet is long-haired, simply trim them to minimize the clinging of ice balls, salt crystals, and de-icing chemicals that can dry out their skin. Also, don’t neglect the hair between their toes. If your pet is short-haired, consider getting him a coat or sweater with a high collar or turtleneck with coverage from the base of the tail to the belly.

• Wash and dry your pet’s feet and stomach: Bring a towel on walks to clean off stinging or irritated paws. After each walk, remove ice, salt, chemicals and check for cracks in paw pads or redness between the toes.

• Bathe your pets as little as possible during cold spells: Washing too often can remove essential oils and increase the chance of developing dry, flaky skin. If your pet must be bathed, ask your vet to recommend a moisturizing shampoo and/or rinse.

Keep your pets safe from chemicals

• Massaging petroleum jelly or other paw protectants into paw pads before going outside: This can help protect from salt and chemicals. Booties provide even more coverage and can also prevent sand and salt from getting stuck between bare toes and irritating them. Use pet-friendly ice melts whenever possible.

• Coolant and antifreeze are both lethal poisons for dogs and cats: Be sure to clean up any spills from your vehicle and consider using products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol.

Keep your pet's energy up

• Feed your pet a little bit more during the cold weather months: Pets burn more energy by trying to stay warm in the wintertime. Additional meals can provide much-needed calories, and making sure they have plenty of water to drink will help keep them well-hydrated and their skin less dry.

• Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to sleep: Keep your pets off the floor and away from all drafts. A dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow is perfect.

The ASCPA said if it's too cold for you, it's likely too cold for your pet. Animals should be kept inside during the winter months or provided some sort of outdoor shelter to stay warm. You should not leave pets alone in a car during cold weather either, as cars can insulate the cold.