Dog Friendly Sussex: Expert advice on keeping your pet safe during cold snap

Met Office experts predict that some parts of the UK will face a chilly few days this week, with much of Sussex expected to be hit with snow on Wednesday.

The drop in temperature across the country has prompted Head Vet at tails.com Sean McCormack to share a warning to dog owners.

He is urging people to look out for rock salt and anti-freeze as they can be extremely dangerous for your canine companions.

He said: “Rock salt is a mixture of salt (sodium chloride) and grit and is an effective way to reduce ice build-up on roads during the colder seasons.

“However, road salt can be extremely dangerous to dogs, as it can irritate the dog’s skin, causing dryness, cracking and even burns to a dog’s pads.

“Even more dangerous for dogs, if they lick it from their paws or fur, they can ingest the chemicals, which can be toxic.

“Symptoms of salt poisoning include drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea and loss of appetite. In more severe cases, it can result in seizures and even death.

“This is why dog owners need to clean their pet’s paws after coming home from a walk in autumn and winter”.

Another product which can cause harm to dogs is antifreeze.

Sean said: “Chilly autumn mornings can lead to frosty windscreens, and many car owners will use antifreeze to clear the ice. As the ice melts from your car, the antifreeze will mix with the water, which can be harmful if your dog likes to drink from puddles.

“Antifreeze can cause damage to your dog's kidneys, even after a small amount has been ingested.

“The dangerous chemical in antifreeze is ethylene glycol, which has a sweet taste that dogs enjoy. So it’s important that if you see any liquids leaking from your car, keep your dog away and clean them up straight away.

“Once consumed, dogs become wobbly or fall over. The back and kidney area can become painful, and they may experience vomiting, dehydration and increase urination.

"After a couple of hours severe acute kidney failure sets in and they display signs of lack of appetite, diarrhoea, drooling, halitosis and seizures”.

“When autumn and winter roll around it brings freezing weather with it. Along with the cold comes another danger for our pets; hypothermia, which is an extremely dangerous drop in body temperature.

It’s also important to keep your dog warm in colder temperatures to prevent hypothermia – which is more common in smaller breeds, older or chronically ill dogs or canines with short and thin hair.

Sean added: “​​The first symptom of hypothermia is excessive shivering, which is followed by lethargy. If your dog is displaying signs, call the vet immediately, and move them to a warm area, then warm the body by covering them in hot water bottles, blankets or towels.

“However, trying to keep your pets toasty warm in the home can be dangerous.

Household heating systems might be comforting to dogs, but they put dogs at risk of overheating and burning their fur and skin.

“Gas heaters and fireplaces can also cause smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning.

"To protect your pup, limit the time they spend in front of the heater and never leave them alone with a heating system switched on.”

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