Safety Tips for Pets

H5N1, also known as bird flu, poses risks to cats. Here’s what you need to know about transmission, prevention, and Anti-Cruelty’s response.
 

What is H5N1? 

H5N1, or avian influenza, is a highly contagious virus that primarily affects domestic and wild birds. In 2024, the virus was detected in mammals in over 20 U.S. states, including 56 documented cases in cats. While it poses a severe threat to poultry and birds, infections in mammals remain less common but concerning.
 

How does it spread to cats? 

H5N1 can spread to cats through contaminated raw poultry products, which may be found in some pet foods. Outdoor cats are also at risk if they hunt and consume infected wild birds. While no vaccines exist for cats, owners can reduce risk by keeping cats indoors and avoiding raw food diets.
 

What is Anti-Cruelty doing to help? 

Anti-Cruelty is raising awareness about H5N1 and advising cat owners to keep their pets indoors and avoid feeding raw poultry or dairy products. We’re also closely monitoring the health of shelter cats, isolating symptomatic felines, and following guidelines from the CDC and other authorities to minimize risks. 

Stay informed 

Anti-Cruelty remains committed to monitoring and mitigating the impact of H5N1 in Chicagoland. Stay informed, take precautions, and help protect your pets and the community.

Walking dogs in an urban setting presents a number of challenges and safety concerns. We encourage dog owners to remain vigilant of surroundings and conditions whenever walking their dogs. 

• Though encountering electrified utilities equipment is uncommon, we recommend pet owners avoid metal grates, manhole covers and utility access points whenever possible. 
• Dog owners can provide added protection against shock, and other hazards like salt and glass, by outfitting dogs with rubber bottomed or protective boots. Note: not all dogs will tolerate wearing accessories like footwear. 
• If you see something, say something. Dial 9-1-1 for immediate emergency assistance if you suspect a piece of utility equipment poses a safety risk. 
• In the event your pet experiences an electric shock, seek medical attention for them immediately. 

Winter can be a dangerous season for pets. Follow these tips to help prevent cold weather from affecting your pet’s health.

Keep your pet indoors as much as possible. House-trained dogs will need to go outside to relieve themselves but be sure to limit their time outside. Take shorter walks and increase the indoor enrichment such as trick training and playing to help keep your pet physically and mentally active.

If it’s too cold for you, it’s probably too cold for your pet, so keep your pet indoors! If left outside, pets can get frostbite or even freeze to death. By law, if your dog or cat lives outside, you must provide adequate shelter and bedding.

After a walk in the cold, clean off stinging and irritated paws with a towel.  Once inside, be sure to wash and dry your dog’s feet, legs, and belly to remove ice, salt, and chemicals, and check for cracks in paw pads or redness between toes.

If you’re concerned that the fur on your dog’s feet is too long, speak with your vet or groomer about whether the fur should be trimmed.

Accessorize! Dress your pup in a warm coat or sweater (especially short-haired and smaller sized dogs) to help them stay warm. Practice dressing up your pup with treats or other incentives before it gets cold.

Booties help prevent sand and salt from getting lodged between bare toes and causing irritation. Massaging petroleum jelly or other paw protectants into paw pads before going outside can be a good alternative if your dog doesn’t like wearing booties.

Although manufacturers are now adding a bittering agent to make antifreeze less attractive, it is still lethal if ingested. Immediately and thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle in your garage and driveway

In cold weather, cats that are allowed outside may climb up inside the hood of a car or in a wheel well seeking warmth and shelter. This can lead to injuries or death when the engine is started. To prevent these incidents, keep your cat indoors at all times. To protect other cats, knock on your car’s hood or beep your horn before starting your car in cold weather.

Exposure to extreme cold temperatures can lead to hypothermia, which can be fatal.

FROSTBITE
It is essential that pet-owners take all precautions to prevent their animals from severe weather dangers including frostbite. Frostbite is most common on the pet’s extremities, including tips of the ears, tail, and toes. Keeping pets inside and limiting time outside for the pet to relieve themselves are key to preventing frostbite.

Frostbite symptoms in pets are similar to humans except pets are not able to express their discomfort. It is important to know the signs of frostbite in pets, including:

• Discoloration of the affected area of skin (often pale, gray or bluish)
• Coldness and/or brittleness of the area when touched
• Pain when body part(s) are touched
• Swelling of the affected area(s)
• Blisters or skin ulcers
• Areas of blackened or dead skin

If you believe your pet has any of these signs or symptoms, wrap him in a warm towel and seek veterinary attention immediately.

During coyote mating season, which typically occurs from January through March, these animals become more active and may venture closer to residential areas. To ensure your pets’ safety during this period, consider the following precautions:

Supervise Pets Outdoors
Always accompany your pets when they are outside, especially during dawn and dusk when coyotes are most active. Keep dogs on a leash and ensure cats remain indoors. Coyotes may perceive unattended pets as prey or threats.

Stay Vigilant in Parks and Wooded Areas
Exercise caution when walking pets near parks, wooded areas, or other locations where coyotes are known to inhabit. Keeping pets on a leash and staying on designated paths can reduce the risk of encounters.

Use Avoidance Techniques
If you encounter a coyote, make loud noises, wave your arms, or use other deterrents to scare it away. This reinforces their natural fear of humans and discourages them from approaching. 

Secure Your Property
Inspect your yard for potential entry points and ensure fencing is in good repair. Remove attractants such as pet food, water sources, and accessible garbage. Blocking access to spaces under porches and sheds can deter coyotes from seeking shelter on your property.

By implementing these measures, you can help protect your pets and reduce the likelihood of coyote encounters during their mating season.

Summer heat can be a dangerous season for pets. Follow these tips to help prevent cold weather from affecting your pet’s health.

Never leave your pet in a parked car. A parked car quickly becomes dangerously hot, even with the windows left partly opened. Outside temperatures do not need to be high for a car to become dangerously hot very quickly. This puts your pet at risk for irreversible organ damage or death.

Be aware of the humidity. When the humidity is high, dogs have a harder time cooling themselves, leading to overheating with their internal temperatures skyrocketing quickly. A dog’s temperature should not be over 104 degrees. To cool a dog down, offer an ice pack or wet towel for them to lay on. Add ice cubes to their water dish, or if available, a wading pool with shallow, cool water for them to get into.

Limit outdoor activities and exercise on hot days. Adjust the duration and type of activity you do with your dog on hot days. Extended periods of time in the heat can lead to heat stroke and death. Morning and evening hours (before the sun comes up or after the sun goes down) are ideal. Be mindful when walking on asphalt as it gets hot and can burn your dog’s paws, so walk on grass when possible. Always carry water to help keep your pet hydrated.

Provide shade and water. When you’re outside, be sure your pet has protection from heat and sun. Add ice to water when possible to keep it cold. Find shade under trees where airflow is constant. Make sure to keep your home at a comfortable temperature with the AC on or, several fans running. Be sure to provide plenty of water.

Know the signs of heat stroke. Symptoms include: difficulty breathing or sudden rapid breath, a blank or anxious stare, off-color gums and tongue, disorientation, excessive drooling, lack of urine, muscle tremors, or sudden collapse. If your pet is overheated, take action immediately. Immerse your pet with cool (not cold or ice) water to lower their body temperature, then take your pet immediately to a veterinarian. Even if it seems your pet has recovered, it is still necessary to check for internal damage.

Call your veterinarian. If your animal is showing any concerning signs of being dehydrated like loss of appetite, reduced energy levels, excessive panting, sunken, dry-looking eyes, dry nose and gums, palen gums, or loss of skin elasticity, call your veterinarian immediately.