With temperatures hitting record lows across the country, it's important to make sure you and your pets are safe. There are a few things you should know to make sure your furry friends stay warm and healthy when the temperatures drop.
Salt
Salt can be an irritant on a dogs' (or cats') paws. You need to be careful when going on walks not to expose them for too long.
"You want to take special care of their paws," said Kathy Shillinglaw, the outreach coordinator for the Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission. "Salt can be really hard on their paws and it can (irritate them)."
Concrete
Much of the same concern for salt goes for cold concrete. The ground is only going to get colder as it gets closer to the start of winter and beyond. If you notice your dog limping or otherwise not walking properly, consider getting boots for them and keep walks short.
"Imagine walking around barefoot outside, how uncomfortable that would be for you? So kind of think about that when you are thinking about your pets," Shillinglaw said.
Cats
While still furry, our feline friends don't have as thick of coats as most dogs. It's even more important to keep cats inside since the consequences of frostbite are very severe and can occur faster than dogs.
"Cats that come in with frostbite, their ears might fall off, their tails might fall off," Shillinglaw said.
The Golden Rule
Treat your pets the way you would want to be treated.
"How long would you want to sit outside? If you don’t want to be out there, your pet doesn’t want to be out there," Shillinglaw said.
This story was originally published by James Groh on WTMJ.