Think of pets and livestock as weather turns cold
December 2, 2013
It should go without saying, but in light of my last article, Bring in your brass monkeys ..., I've been asked to remind readers that metal monkeys aren't the only things needing tended when the weather turns frigid ... your furry and feathered friends need attention, too.

Dogs and cats can fare ill in these cold climes, even if they're outdoor animals. In fact, the cold can quickly prove fatal if care isn't taken to provide them a cozy place protected from the icy wind.

Dog houses should be turned so the entrance is out of the wind, and filled with clean, dry straw that the dog can burrow into and stay moderately warm. Barn cats will typically hunker down in the warmest spot available, and if you can find where that is, you can make life a bit cozier for them by providing similar comforts.

If you're trying to convert an acclimated house pet into an outdoor critter, it's advisable to cut a little slack and let them back in for a spell until the weather warms up a bit.

Water is critical ... it tends to turn hard and unwelcoming pretty fast when temperatures dip below zero, and no animal can drink in ice cube. Always make sure pets and livestock have access to a supply still in the liquid state, even when it won't stay that way long.

Provide extra feed; a hungry critter is more susceptible to the rigors of cold than a beast with a full belly.

It should go without saying, but too often it doesn't, and a reminder helps.