when temperature become more rigid and cold intensifies, we begin to see scarves, gloves and hats on our streets ... but how can we help animal friends to overcome this season?
When our friend lives in the house
Our 4-legged friends who are lucky enough to have a roof over their heads, are certainly the least affected by frost and snow! It will be important avoid to take them for a walk or to take them out in the colder hours, to avoid temperature changes too strong (tropical temperatures at home and then ice and snow outdoors), perhaps keeping them on the stairs a few minutes before going out, allowing them to gradually acclimatize, use coats suitable for puppies or small-sized and short-haired dogs, which are able to retain less body heat, use special products to protect the paws from any snow.
And for strays?
If we take care of more unfortunate animals like colonies of cats o stray dogs, it is essential to build them a refuge for the night, which can be trivially assembled with del cardboard coated by a cover warm and nice fleece plastic bags around to avoid humidity, or more solid and resistant with gods old pallets or pieces of wood! Building a small house for them is really easy, after all it doesn't have to be a palace! Another very important thing is the food, which should always be available and of good quality, to allow an accumulation of fat useful to protect themselves from the cold. Much attention should also be paid towater, since the normal sources from which these animals drink, could be frozen, so it is good to always leave a source of clean water available! For more animals elderly then ... what would be better than one temporary cottage? Ask your friends and relatives to host an elderly and stray pet at home for a few months ... a good deed that could save his life!
... Let's not forget about wildlife!
Also the wildlife in colder periods it may need help!
I ricci they should be hibernating, but if you meet one awake during the winter, stop it and call a recovery center immediately, because it may be too thin to end the hibernation and therefore in danger of life!
Same thing if he finds a bat, whether it is on the ground or attached to a wall in a visible position, the animal needs help because it should be hibernating! Don't panic, the bats they are not bad! Call a recovery center, put on a glove and with a rag try to take it in a delicate way, place it in a box with very small holes and give it to those who can save their lives!
And the birds?
They have so hungry, but bread is not the most suitable choice, since it has reduced nutritional value and would not help them gain weight and satiate themselves! The best food for birds are insects (mealworms to be purchased in fishing shops), nights e hazelnuts finely cut, pieces of panettone, insectivorous feed e seeds for canaries or exotic birds! You can place one food bowl on your windowsill, on the terrace or in the garden, in a sheltered place that cannot be reached by predators ... you will see that there is a coming and going of little wings that will thank you with their singing!
Dr. Paola Zintu, veterinarian
Photo: fourstuarts, And Nakanishi, open arms
