Tips to keep your pets safe in winter weather

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — If you plan to spend time outside with your pet, it’s important to know its tolerance for cold weather.

While some dog breeds can handle and enjoy being outside in frigid conditions, many breeds can’t stay outside for long, like chihuahuas and greyhounds.

So it’s best to limit their time outside or take them on shorter than usual walks.

Christina Whitley is a critical care specialist at Eastern Carolina Vet Referral.

If you are taking your pets outside, she said it’s important to clean off your pet’s paws when they come inside.

“If they have prolonged exposure to the cold so their little paw pads are pretty sensitive,” Whitley said. “Sometimes too, they can, with the salt or the chemicals that are, you know, on the ground, we just need to make sure we keep their little paws are clean cause they’ll lick that and might get sick from that as well.”

Whitley said dogs and other small animals can get frostbite once the temperature falls below 32 degrees.

So if it’s too cold for you to be outside with clothes and shoes on, it’s too cold for a pet who many not have those layers of protection and warmth.