By Spencer Dixon

SALISBURY — The cold weather settling over Salisbury means people need to take special precautions to protect themselves, but pet owners should not forget their furry friends.

Freezing temperatures can be just as detrimental to animals as it is to humans.

Terry Snead of the Rowan Animal Clinic, 4155 Statesville Blvd., shared some helpful tips on how to protect animals from the cold.

First, animals should be brought inside homes when possible. For those that cannot be inside, garages are the next best thing. Garages are a suitable place for animals because they help pets avoid the wind.

Whether outside or in a garage, Snead recommends placing a blanket on top of an elevated surface for animals to sleep on. If the blanket is elevated, the ground cannot absorb a pet’s body heat.

An electric blanket would be best — except for those notorious chewers. If an electric blanket is not available, place a small piece of house insulation under a blanket to prevent pets from losing body heat.

To help with frozen water, Snead recommends changing a pet’s water more often or placing the water and food bowls close to an area where heat escapes the house.

Another option is to place water and food bowls on an electric blanket to avoid freezing.

If a pet has medical problems, especially heart problems, owners should not take them on a walk in extreme cold. The animal should be inside as much as possible to prevent the illness’ progression.