How to keep your pets and vehicles safe in extreme cold

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Whether you have a beloved pet or a vehicle you treasure, you'll want to keep a watchful eye on both in these frigid temperatures. The cold weather can bring misfortune to dogs, cats, and cars.

With the temperature hovering around zero, we found veterinarians and mechanics extra busy tending to the needs of animals and cars due to the cold.

Days like these, frostbite can come on fast for our four-legged friends.

"The frostbite will discolor their skin and make it look kind of pale or kind of grayish, cold to the touch," said Angela Speed, vice president of communications at the Wisconsin Humane Society.

Vet techs like Holly Stadler, at Marshall Pet Care Clinic, treat frostbite and hypothermia and explain what to watch for.

"It's mainly gonna hit their ears, their paws, and the tip of their tail first. I would definitely keep an eye on the color of those paw pads. Some dogs already have black pads, so be sure you know what your pet's paw pads look like, and then if you see anything abnormal, definitely get them into your vet," said Stadler.

"So this is my little friend Choco. He's four months old and he is looking for a new home," said Speed.

At the Wisconsin Humane Society right now, they're restricting outdoor potty breaks to a quick in and out, and advise you do the same.

"Even northern breed dogs like Akitas, and Malamutes and Chow Chows, they're not conditioned to this type of cold, and even they need shelter from the conditions," said Speed.

"The cold is really bad on them, but then you get the rock salt out there as well. It's just the chemical agent in that rock salt. It can cause GI upset if they ingest it, so if it's stuck on their feet and they go to lick it," said Stadler.

The cold's hard on our four-wheeled treasures too.

"We've had some tow-ins. We've had people that their cars just wouldn't start at all," said Steve Montgomery, co-owner of Meineke Car Care Center in West Allis.

This West Allis Meineke's got a winter checklist for you. Use the blue or purple windshield washer fluid, which is good at 20 or 30 below, make sure your alternator and battery are okay, and keep your tires inflated to the proper pressure, the one marked on the driver's door. Don't go by the number on the tire itself.

"Slightly over-inflated isn't so serious as under-inflated. With over-inflated, it's gonna be worse in the snow if you're way over-inflated, but under-inflated, it's not good. Your traction can suffer," said Montgomery.

And if you park outside, it might be a good idea to start your vehicle multiple times a day right now. Once you move it, honk first, and maybe bang on the hood, because stray animals like cats might have crawled up into your engine looking for warmth.