Winter pet safety tips: Protect pets during Central Texas cold weather

A border collie lies in the snowfall on a meadow in a garden. While many pets love winter weather, they face risks associated with cold conditions.
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As with recent years, December began with a warm trend in the Austin area. While the Old Famer’s Almanac predicts a warmer and drier winter on average, it also warns of occasional cold snaps.

As we saw last winter, a warmer start to the season doesn’t mean it’ll stay that way. In January 2025, Winter Storm Cora brought plunging temperatures and significant snow and ice to Central Texas. And such conditions don’t just pose dangers to humans — pets and other animals are also susceptible to harm in winter.

Here’s what to know about keeping animals safe when temperatures drop.

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A cat takes a nap by the windowsill at El Gato Coffeehouse in Houston, Texas, on Feb. 27, 2018.
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American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has shared the following cold weather safety tips from experts at the non-profit’s Animal Poison Control Center (APCC):

1. Remember: If it’s too cold for you, it’s probably too cold for your pet. Keep your animals inside. If left outdoors, pets can freeze, become disoriented, lost, stolen, injured or killed. In addition, don’t leave pets alone in a car during cold weather, as cars can act as refrigerators that hold in the cold and cause animals to freeze to death.

2. Keep your home humidified and be sure to towel-dry your pet as soon as they come inside. Repeatedly going into the cold and then comin back into a warm home can cause itchy, flaking skin. Pay close attention to their feet and in-between their toes and remove any snow balls from between their foot pads to prevent and treat skin irritation in the winter.

3. Massage petroleum jelly or other vet-approved paw protectants into paw pads before going outside, to protect from salt and chemical agents. Booties can provide even more coverage and can also prevent sand and salt from getting lodged between bare toes and causing irritation. Use pet-friendly ice melts whenever possible.

4. Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter. A longer coat will provide more warmth. If your dog is long-haired, simply trim them to minimize the clinging ice balls, salt crystals and de-icing chemicals that can dry their skin, and don’t neglect the hair between their toes. If your dog is short-haired, consider getting them a coat or sweater with a high collar or turtleneck with coverage from the base of the tail to the belly.

5. After each walk, make sure to wash and dry your pet’s feet and stomach to remove ice, salt and chemicals. Don’t forget to check for cracks in paw pads or redness between the toes. You may also want to bring a towel on long walks to clean off stinging, irritated paws.

6. Bathe your pets as little as possible during cold spells. Washing too often can remove essential oils and increase the chance of developing dry, flaky skin. If your pooch must be bathed, ask your vet to recommend a moisturizing shampoo and/or rinse.

7. Thoroughly clean up any antifreeze spills. Like coolant, antifreeze is a lethal for dogs and cats. Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle, and consider using products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol. Additionally, cold weather chemicals like ice melts can be dangerous when ingested, so always be mindful and keep chemicals up and out of paws' reach.

8. Feed your pet a little extra in the winter months. Pets burn extra energy by trying to stay warm in wintertime. Feeding them a little bit more can

   provide much-needed calories, and making sure they have plenty of water to drink will help keep them well-hydrated and their skin less dry.

9. Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A cozy dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow is perfect.

10. Never let your dog off leash on snow or ice, especially during a snowstorm. Dogs can lose their scent in the snow and easily become lost. More dogs are lost during the winter than during any other season, so make sure your dog always wears an ID tag.

Tips for keeping pets, animals safe in the winter

A woman walks her dog, a pug, in the snow in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Robert Alexander/Getty Images

There are several other proactive measures you can take to keep your pet — or someone else’s — safe in Central Texas winters.

Along with preparing dogs for walks and providing aftercare, consider making adjustments to the walk itself. Shortening the length of a walk will limit a pet’s exposure to frigid temperatures. The American Red Cross also warns against walking on frozen water such as ponds and lakes. Both you and your pet are at risk of falling through the ice — even ice that appears thick enough to support the weight. Crashing through ice and into subzero waters can be deadly.

Whether you go on walks or let pets into a yard to do their business, watch out for signs of hypothermia. According to the American Red Cross, this can present in pets as whining, shivering, anxious behaviors, moving slower than usual or not at all, or looking for warm places to burrow. If you notice any of these, bring them inside right away. Pets can also contract frostbite, which is more difficult to detect and may go unnoticed for multiple days. Consult your veterinarian immediately if you suspect your furry friend has developed hypothermia or frostbite.

Pets are also at risk of hypothermia and frostbite if left in cold vehicles for any amount of time — especially if the animals are relatively young, old, sick or thin.

Just as it’s recommended to carry emergency kits in vehicles and homes during the winter months, it’s a good idea to have an emergency kit that includes pet items. This includes enough food, water, prescription medications, and heartworm and flea/tick preventatives to last at least five days. Experts also suggest packing paw protectants, booties or paw covers, a thermal blanket, a hot water bottle or heat pack, and reflective gear to ensure pets are visible during nighttime walks.