Extreme Cold Triggers Pet Safety Warnings in Central Illinois

If you've stepped outside lately, you know the weather isn't our friend right now.

With dangerously cold temperatures expected this weekend, let's just send a little reminder to all our pet parents out there.  If it's too cold for you to stand at the door with a coat, it's too cold for most of your pets to be outside.  That should be enough to make all of us rethink "they'll be fine for a bit."

Related: Illinois Winters Are Brutal — Experts Are Telling Us to ‘Burp’ Our Homes

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I saw that the only 100% safe option during extremely cold conditions like we're about to get is keeping pets indoors.  That means:

• bathroom breaks should be quick
• no lingering sniff sessions
• no scrolling on your phone while they wander around
• none of it

If your pet absolutely has to stay outside, animal control says a basic dog house isn't enough.  The shelter needs to be:

• OFF THE GROUND!
• INSULATED
• WIND-PROOF
• COMPLETELY DRY

Also, I do this for my stray cats, but you should do it for all pets: use straw and not blankets.  Blankets can get wet, freeze, and actually pull heat away from your pet's body.  Straw stays dry and retains warmth!  This is actually a really important, lifesaving measure in temperatures like what we're about to see.

Read More: Creative Winter Activities For The Cold In Northern Illinois

Cold weather also brings hazards we don't always think about... like road salt and chemicals!  These can burn your furbaby's paw pads badly.  So, that's why a lot of people wipe off their pets after they've been outside.  We don't want ice balls stuck between their toes!  Would you want that uncomfortable feeling?

I heard with windchill this weekend, it could get to negative forty degrees... absolutely not here for it.  Dress appropriately, don't get frostbite, and if you really need a warming shelter, there are plenty around central Illinois.