Can domestic animals withstand the extreme cold temperatures we’ve been getting recently?

According to the experts, the answer is a resounding no.

Animals are just as susceptible to frostbite as humans. It is very painful with tails and ears being especially vulnerable. Protective clothing such as doggie sweaters for short haired or sensitive dogs can help during walks but animals should not be left outdoors for long periods of time in extreme cold temperatures.

Signs of frostbite include swollen blistery paws or pale tissue that is cold to the touch. Experts advise wrapping your pet in a dry blanket on the way to the vet and warm (never hot) water bottles or heating pads (also warm) may be applied to affected areas.

Never immerse your pet completely in water because this will drop body temperatures causing hypothermia, which is an abnormal lowering of a body’s temperature. Signs of hypothermia are shivering, weakness and a low body temperature.

Lisa Berkenstock, a certified veterinarian technician said extra caution should be taken in cold weather, especially for senior pets.

Berkenstock explained the dangers of ice, which can cause senior animals with arthritis to loose their footing. She recommends just letting animals out to relieve themselves and then back inside.

Tamira Ci Thayne, founder of Dogs Deserve Better, a Pennsylvania based advocacy group working to end chaining and tethering dogs, stated that even though animals have fur, they are not equipped to withstand the temperatures we’ve been getting.

Thayne is dedicated to ending chaining and tethering dogs. Some believe dogs can survive outdoors in any weather but Thayne said its not only the weather but the animals' need to be with their "families."

“Dogs consider us their pack leaders so leaving them outside anytime is a bad idea - they just want to be with us,” she said.

Thayne said many dogs freeze even with dog houses, for many reasons. "Sometimes the dog house isn't adequate - below thirty degrees a dog house is not enough to keep a dog warm. They may survive but can't maintain their body heat and stay warm all night."

Once arrested for saving a  dog that was dying on the end of a chain, Thayne continues to educate people about the socialization dogs require.

Nickolas Dodman, DVM, Professor, Tufts University, states that chaining a dog makes them more aggressive because they are natural social animals. "Chaining induces isolation-induced aggression ....they basically go mad."

 While Berkenstock has not personally seen any dogs in this area left out in dog houses in this weather, she has heard horror stories of dogs frozen to their dog houses or getting stuck from refreezing of melting snow.

Road salt is another concern and potential hazard for our four-legged friends. Paws can become burned or cracked from salt used to melt snow and ice. Experts recommend always wiping your pets paws after a walk. One suggestion is a ‘paw bath’ kept by the door for a quick rinse after your walk.

Berkenstock also cautions pet owners about the dangers of antifreeze coolant. “It is deadly,” she stated. There are pet-friendly varieties that substitute ethylene glycol with non-lethal propylene glycol.

Outdoor cats are especially vulnerable to extreme cold temperatures because of their size and being ill-equipped to handle freezing temperatures.

Cats often take refuge in a car’s engine compartment for warmth and shelter. If a car is started, it could mean severe injury or death for the cat. Berkenstock recommends banging on the hood of your car or beeping your horn before starting it.

A Lower Moreland resident, Berkenstock works at the Horsham Vet Hospital and Rockledge Vet clinic.

In addition to being a vet tech she is also a dog trainer and does behavioral consultations for animals, both dogs and cats with behavioral issues such as anxiety, aggression and housebreaking.

Kim Kaufman of the Warminster animal rescue group, Animal Friends Forever, has been doing rescue work for 10 years.The group has foster homes and members from many parts of our area including Doylestown, Philadelphia and Willow Grove.

Recently, one of Kaufman's volunteers found an eight-week old kitten on an abandoned bus with frostbite. "His eyes were closed shut, he was very cold and hungry," said Kaufman.

"Animals can't survive in this weather - they are domesticated with no skills for the outside. Hypothermia sets in very quickly," she added.

For more information or to volunteer as a foster, contact Animal Friends Forever at affrescue@aol.com.