This dog is pictured at the Fort Morgan Humane Society in 2015.
This dog is pictured at the Fort Morgan Humane Society in 2015. (Fort Morgan Times file photo)

Tips for pet owners

During the winter:

• Dry your pet with a towel when it comes inside, and wipe off any rock salt or chemicals from the road.

• Allow your pet's coat to grow longer.

• Bathe pets less often. Too much washing in cold weather can dry out their skin.

• Feed pets a little more. They burn more energy trying to stay warm.

• Don't leave pets outside overnight, and don't leave them alone in the car.

For more advice on seasonal pet care, go to or call the Fort Morgan Veterinary Clinic at 970-867-9477.

Cold weather, such as what Morgan County saw in December, can be dangerous even for those with natural fur coats.

Like humans, pets can suffer many different health problems if they stay outdoors too long in the winter. Very old and very young pets are particularly at risk for problems like hypothermia and dehydration. But caring for a pet in the winter sometimes involves more than just keeping it indoors.

Karen Chandler, a doctor at the Fort Morgan Veterinary Clinic, said she often sees dogs and cats that are dehydrated or hypothermic this time of year because their water bowls have frozen over or otherwise become inaccessible. Pets without a warm place to sleep also are more vulnerable.

"Good bedding isn't enough," Chandler said. "Sometimes they need a heat lamp or a blanket, as well."


As always, it's also important for owners to keep track of where their pets are and make sure they can't wander off into the cold.

Holly Davisson of the Fort Morgan Humane Society said she saw an "alarming amount" of stray dogs this winter. Six were brought to the shelter in one day in December. Stray dogs and cats are always vulnerable, but they're in even more danger if they wander from home in the winter.

But although it's important to give pets a place to come in from the cold, most dogs shouldn't be inside all day long. They need exercise two or three times a day, Chandler said. And not every dog responds well to long periods indoors.

"If you have a dog that's used to being outside, and you try to bring them inside, they can actually overheat because they're not used to the change in temperature," Chandler said.

Cats, on the other hand, should be kept indoors as much as possible, she said.

Cold isn't the only winter hazard pets can face. Davisson said the rock salt people spread on roads and sidewalks to prevent ice can also be harmful to dogs and cats.

"You shouldn't let dogs walk through salt," she said. "It's hard on their pads, and if they lick their paws when they come inside, it's hard on their tummies, too."

But as long as pets have access to shelter, food and unfrozen water, they likely won't have any more trouble surviving winter than their owners do.

Stephanie Alderton: 970-867-5651 ext 227, or