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MANHATTAN -- Even though they have a fur coat, domestic dogs and cats will tell you it's not enough protection from some of the extremely cold days winter can bring.

A temperature of 10 degrees Fahrenheit or below is too cold for a pet to withstand, said William Fortney, doctor of veterinary medicine at the Kansas State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. If the pet is very young, old or ill, it will have even less tolerance for the cold, Fortney said.

He said proper conditioning for colder temperatures is key to keeping the pet healthy. If the pet keeps a regular indoor-outdoor schedule throughout the fall and into winter, it will be better accustomed to cold temperatures.

"If you take the average dog in the middle of winter and decide that all of a sudden it's going to be an outside dog, it's not going to adapt well and there will be a lot of stress on the animal," he said. "Throughout the fall, as it gets colder and colder, there will be adaptation. The animal will be more used to the cold, the fur coat may grow a little thicker and the animal may store more fat to generate heat."

Forming enough insulation to keep the pet warm in the winter may require an owner to increase the animal's caloric intake by at least 25 percent. The animal is then able to generate the necessary body heat, Fortney said. Smaller animals may have a more difficult time storing a lot of fat and, therefore, may be more vulnerable to the cold than larger breed dogs.

Dog owners can help their animal stay warm by providing a dog house that faces south with a flap to block the wind, Fortney said. The house should be insulated, with care taken to make sure the dog cannot get to it as insulation contains fiberglass that can be very irritating to the animal. A small light bulb can provide a small amount of heat in the dog house. Proper bedding can also provide additional warmth.

"A popular bedding choice seems to be straw," Fortney said. "Changing the straw has to do with it getting wet, not so much with it getting dirty. In really snowy times it might be a good idea to change straw every two weeks. Otherwise, once a month is adequate. Old bed spreads are another option. I like them because you can take them to the laundromat and get them cleaned and then put them right back in."

Fortney said most cats would not utilize a cat house. Many people put cat doors on their garage or crack the garage door so the cats can get inside. He said cats are generally small enough to find warm places to curl up, like under the porch or in culverts.

However, seeking a warm place can create hazards. In a cat's search for warmth, car engines may seem like a good place to rest. Fortney said people should check under the hoods of their cars for their cat before starting the motor, which could have fatal results if the cat were inside.

Antifreeze is a danger to both dogs and cats and Fortney encourages people to dispose of it properly when changing it.

"Antifreeze is extremely poisonous to animals and unfortunately, it has a sweet taste that animals like," he said. "This is the time of year where people are changing the antifreeze and not disposing of it properly. We see several animals a year that die from drinking it."

Fortney said another wintertime substance that may harm animals is the ice removers put on streets or sidewalks. Animals may get it caught in their paws and lick it, which can make them sick. He said it is not fatal, but wiping the pet's feet off is a good idea.

The physical stress of cold temperatures can make pets more susceptible to illness or infection. Also, if an animal gets wet, there is a severe wind chill and the animal is unable to find shelter, frostbite becomes another hazard.

"Generally the tip of tails and tips of the ears are most susceptible," Fortney said. "If an animal gets frostbite, gently warm the area with a wash cloth and lukewarm water. Then it's a good idea to visit the veterinarian for medical treatment to avoid infection of the area."

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