Cross Breeds

Snow/Ice storm moving in.....as far as the dogs go what should we have to be prepared?

Okay we have 2 dogs and they are inside dogs. But just wondering how we should prepare for the bad weather with them. We live in the south and it never snows here, its been about 10 years since or last ice storm and the last few years it hasn't even been below 40 degrees here. The last 2 weeks the temp has been around 17 degrees. Anyways this evening/tonight we are expecting snow and ice. (Anywhere between 2 to 4 inches of snow is expected) But even with an inch of snow things get crazy around here, no one knows how to drive in it. My concern is more about the ice, you get enough of that and the powerlines snap and all that fun stuff. How should we prepare incase this is worse than we expect. We have flashlights and candles and we just bought a new thing of dog food. Should we get some bottled water or jugs of water incase the pipes freeze? Also letting them out to potty in this mess, best way to keep them safe when doing that? Thanks We haven't had snow in 4 years and haven't had an Ice storm since I was a kid. (We did have a small dusting of snow last year but was over and melted within 2 hours) We live in second floor apartment by the way and we dont' have a fireplace. I'm pregnant so won't be venturing out until it melts, but hubby will be taking the dogs out

Public Comments

1. It's a good idea to have some bottled water around, yes. But other than that, the dogs pretty much need what you need. Warmth, food, water and a place to eliminate. The dogs may not want to go out in the snow. I got my dog when I lived in GA, so she never saw snow. Then we moved to the Northeastern US, where snow is a way of life half the year. At first, she would just not go out into it. The world was clearly broken!! But once we all were out in the snow and having fun, she couldn't help getting in on the game. Now she loves it! So be prepared that you may need to convince your dog that the world turning white is normal and fun, not frightening. ;) Also, you will want to wipe the dogs feet with a damp towel when she comes in from walking on salted surfaces. The salt is not good for their paws and can dry them so badly that they crack and split, so wipe it off when you get inside. I also use a product called PawGuard, made by Fourpaws, but we have salt for months, not a few days. You can also look into buying pet safe salt, called SafePaw. It's bright turquoise, so it stands out on the shelf. It also costs twice what regular salt costs, but can save you trouble down the line. Where you live, I'd get it because it absorbs more melting snow than most other salts do from my experience ETA: If your dogs are not used to low temps, take them on brief walks--10 minutes or less. Do more walks, but shorter so that they don't get too cold. If you can find them in your parts YakTrax are wonderful for dog owners. These are like snowtires for your shoes. they slip onto your normal shoes or boots and give you traction in slippery conditions. A must if you have to walk dogs in bad winter weather! Major sporting goods chains usually have them for $20 or less per pair.
2. Fill your bathtubs with water for emergency water rations. Be sure to have a non-electric can opener around. Have enough dog food for at least 2 weeks. Have your cell phone charged. Only keep one on at a time. Have the number to an emergency vet outside of your area so you can call them should something happen. Double check the batteries in the flashlights and have spare batteries as well. Candles should be used sparingly and should be unscented. Too many lit candles can create a carbon monoxide problem in small rooms. Have plenty of matches and lighters. For potty breaks, keep on top of the weather by clearing a path and a potty spot regularly. If your dogs are short haired or single coated, a jacket of some sort may be helpful, but if they are only out for 30 seconds, don't worry too much about it. Watch for de-icing salts as they can often contain chemicals that hurt paws. Have plenty of toys to keep the dogs entertained if they can't get outside. If they aren't well potty trained, regularly ask them to go out. In cold weather, lots of dogs start having accidents because they don't want to go out. Be sure to reward profusely when they do go out. My itty bitty dog with pratically no fur does fine in cold weather and snow. She's not going to play in it, but she only asks to go out when she really really needs to go. We rarely even coat her because she's out & in so quickly.