Be sure to keep your pets safe from cold

With temperatures in the single digits and wind chill factors causing drops to below zero, the Anderson Animal Shelter in South Elgin would like to remind pet owners that it is critical for them to keep their animals indoors.

Just like humans, animals can suffer from frostbite and hypothermia if left outside for any amount of time longer than a few minutes.

"In this weather, it doesn't take long at all for an animal to display clinical signs of frostbite or hypothermia, and both conditions can be life threatening. Although hypothermia presents a greater acute risk of injury to internal organs and possible death," said Dr. Sharon Colgan, medical director at Anderson Animal Shelter.

Frostbite may be difficult to detect, but can include symptoms such as pale or bluish skin that is cool to the touch.

Colgan says that the signs to watch for with hypothermia are shivering, seemingly dazed or depressed or reluctant to move and respond normally. Unfortunately, by the time these symptoms are noticeable, it may be severe and too late to intervene. Therefore, it is extremely important to curb the amount of time the animal is exposed to inclement weather.

"The animals in our area are not acclimated to an arctic environment, so even with breeds of dogs that are very hardy, such as the malamute, you still must be very careful," Colgan said.

"Any dog merely needs the opportunity to quickly relieve themselves and they should be brought right back inside."

Also, Colgan wants to be sure that people don't assume that cats are able to find respite from the cold. They too are vulnerable to these temperatures.

A cat residing at the shelter named Nadia came in with both ears more than half gone due to frostbite.

"She is lucky she didn't suffer a worse fate because it can happen to any pet very quickly," Colgan said.

Anderson Animal Shelter is a nonprofit organization that relies on private donations as its primary source of funding.

The shelter is at 1000 S. LaFox (Rt. 31) in South Elgin. It has adoption hours every day except Wednesday. For details about the shelter and its programs, call (847) 697-2880 or visit www. andersonanimalshelter.org.