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How to Save Your Dog or Cat from Hypothermia and Frostbite: Vital Symptoms and Life-Saving Vet Advice

The bitter cold temperatures that are coming to most of the country can mean life-threatening consequences like hypothermia and frostbite that can be severe to our pets, necessitating prompt action, informed immediate care, and followed up with veterinary care to ensure your pet's safety. Recognizing the symptoms in your pet is crucial.

Take 5 minutes to read our full blog article, then watch the 3-minute video to keep your pets safe:

Click the play button below to watch the video for more insights.

Protect Your Pet on Winter Road Trips: The Essentials That Could Save Their Life

If you're stuck in traffic for 12-24 hours due to a multi-car pileup with your pet onboard, preparation is key to ensuring their safety and comfort. While this example is extreme, winter road trips these days can become difficult very easily, so it is best to be prepared for the worst and hope for the best.

Take 3 minutes to read our full blog article, then watch the 3-minute video to keep your pets safe on your next road trip:

Click the play button below to watch the video for more insights.

Pet Humor

Those eyes convey a story of guilt.

Unbeatable Winter Immune Boosters for Your Pets During Extreme Cold Events

Veterinary experts suggest boosting your pet’s diet with toppers like berries and bone broth during extreme winter weather to boost immunity and keep them healthy.

Take a few minutes to read our full blog article and watch the short video to keep your pets safe and healthy during these winter extremes:

Click the play button below to watch the video for more insights.

News for Pet Owners and Animal Lovers:

• Recalls: January 3, 2025: Blue Ridge Beef is still finding issues with kitten mix and puppy mix due to a contamination of Salmonella. Check their site for the latest. See the Pet Food Recalls section of our Pet Blog to stay informed: https://www.healthypetblog.net/pet-food-recalls

• Bird Flu: The verdict on pet food bird flu contamination is still not out, but some companies are doing voluntary recalls, so check your preferred provider before purchasing.

• Sugar-Free Peanut Alert: Some new sugar-free peanut butter are using Xylitol instead of sugar. Xylitol can be toxic for dogs. Check the labels.

• Flying With Your Pet: If you decide to fly with your pet, you will need to fill out specific forms. Whether your pet is a service animal or not, and whether it is traveling in the cabin or cargo, you should call your airline before purchasing your ticket to find out which paperwork is required. You should also talk with your veterinarian about how your pet will do on the plane. Your veterinarian can prescribe drugs to help with stress, but some pets are not well suited for flying.

Inspiring Animals

Best Friends Hanging Out

Young farm animals have the advantage of making friends early in their life cycle before they have the chance to get apprehensive about another species. Again, there are valuable lessons for humans to learn from this crew.

Life Hacks and Trivia

• How do you recognize a feral cat? A feral cat can be identified primarily by its extreme fear of humans. It will flee quickly, crouch low, avoid eye contact, and rarely vocalize. Unlike stray cats that might approach people cautiously, feral cats act like wild animals because they've never been socialized with humans. Physical signs can include a lean, muscular build, possible battle scars, and sometimes a "tipped" ear indicating they've been spayed/neutered through a TNR program.

  While feral cats are not socialized to humans, they can be helped through trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs, which humanely manage their populations. If you encounter a feral cat, contacting a local rescue organization can ensure their well-being and prevent overpopulation.

• What is the normal body temperature of cats and dogs?

  Normal body temperatures for cats and dogs are higher than for humans.

  For cats: 100.5-102.5°F (38.1-39.2°C) 

  For dogs: 101-102.5°F (38.3-39.2°C)

  If a cat or dog's temperature falls outside these ranges, it could indicate fever or hypothermia, and they should be checked by a veterinarian. Temperatures above 104°F (40°C) or below 99°F (37.2°C) are particularly concerning.

Pet Pro Tips:

This can be Fatal: When a kitten’s body temperature gets below 97 F. Never feed them or warm them too fast. Instead, get them to the vet immediately.

If pet paws are frozen to the ground, do not pull them off. Instead, pour lukewarm water around their paws until they are released. They may have tissue damage, so get them to the vet as a precaution.

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