A good rule of thumb to keep in mind when it comes to protecting your pets during the winter is: if you're cold, so are they.
Dr. David Rosene of Shorewood Animal Hospital says knowing when your pet is cold is key.
"Hypothermia and low body temperature can be serious, and a pet can die if it's left outside for too long," Rosene said.
If a dog or cat is left outside, osene said to make sure the pet has dry bedding, good shelter and has clean water to drink.
"You want to make sure the water is not frozen, and that's tricky in weather like this. If your pet is outside, you have to have some kind of dog house, bedding and a dish with a warming capability," he said.
Another big issue when it comes to winter in Wisconsin is salt. Pets walk on the ground where salt is spread nearly every day.
Rosene says after walks, wipe your pets' paws. He suggests using warm water to remove the salt or trying dog booties to protect their feet.
He also advises against keeping pets in a cold car for too long during the winter. Your car basically turns into a refrigerator.
