HOBART, WI -- It might take your breath away, but the bitter cold isn't keeping people indoors.
But this big cold snap could spell "big trouble" for your four legged family member if you're not ready for it.
Emergency room veterinarians NBC26 spoke with today say this winter's warmer weather, until now, has come with an unseasonable rise in pet injuries, like car accidents.
But now they're expecting to treat more cold-weather cases, like frostbite.
Summer, or winter, there's no excuse: people, and their pets, need their weekly exercise.
"It's just something to do," says dog owner Krystal John, "and the sun is out, so why not?"
John and others were enjoying their Sunday at the Brown County Park and Pet Exercise Area.
"If it's too cold for me, it's usually too cold for her," says John. "So, if I'm comfortable sitting outside, I'll bring her out with me."
Places, like the Hobart dog park, offer these pups a safe zone for playing--away from roads, and view obstructing snow banks that have come with the year's snowfall.
"We've been seeing more motor vehicle accidents," says Dr. Lisa Peters, who specializes in emergency and critical care for our four-legged companions, "pets that have been hit by cars, more than we have in other winters."
At the Fox Valley Animal Referral Center, Dr. Peters says now the winter is bringing with it a new danger for pets: "dogs that get frostbite on their paws. We have to be very careful when these temperatures drop like this to get out pets inside, or make sure they have appropriate shelter."
And what each pet can handle depends.
While "outdoor dogs" may be more cold-hearty, indoor dogs of all sizes can fall victim to the cold fast.
"Their paws haven't had time to thicken up over time," says Peters.
That means always monitor your pet closely when outside--even for a few moments.
"Let them out, [and] make sure [you] don't lose track of time, get caught up in cooking, or doing stuff with around the house with the kids," says Dr. Peters, "and get them back in the house as soon as possible."
Tools, like booties and jackets, can also make a big difference, "but we have to be very careful that they fit appropriately, so they don't get tangled up," adds Dr. Peters. "That can create another problem as well."
Another way your car is potentially lethal to your pet in the winter: antifreeze leaks.
Dr. Peters says antifreeze, and coolant poisoning cases, are more common with pets in cold weather months.
Here are a few extra tips that can keep your pet warm, safe, and healthy this winter.
First, make sure your pet always has enough food, and water--especially in cold snaps.
Look for warning signs, like whimpering, holding a paw in the air, or paws bleeding.
Keep sensitive areas, like the nose, and ear tips, frostbite free.
And cut down on baths, which can dry out your pet's skin.
