Keeping Animals Safe During Severe Winter Storms 

• Store enough feed, hay, bedding and medicines for at least one week without new supplies.
• Check animals' body condition and provide extra feed to underweight animals. Separate them from the group if necessary.
• Repair roofs, doors, shelters and fences. Provide dry bedding and wind protection.
• Plan how to supply water without electricity. Test generators and backup equipment.
• Check microchip details and identification tags.
• Prepare emergency kits for yourself and your animals.

• Follow weather forecasts and official warnings.
• Add extra bedding and fill water containers.
• Charge mobile phones.
• Close wind-facing openings where appropriate, while maintaining adequate ventilation.
• Move vulnerable animals to safe shelter before conditions deteriorate.

• Provide clean, unfrozen drinking water.
• Avoid moving animals unless it is necessary. Moving them uses energy they need to stay warm.
• Do not go outside in dangerous conditions to check animals. Your safety comes first.

• Check every animal as soon as it is safe.
• Clear snow so animals can reach feed, water and add dry bedding.
• Check roofs for heavy snow without putting yourself in danger.
• Reopen ventilation openings that were closed before the storm.
• Inspect fences, as snowdrifts may allow animals to escape.
• Spread sand or grit on icy paths.
• Look for fallen branches and power lines before allowing animals outdoors.

• Prepare coats and boots for dogs that need them.
• Bring pets indoors before a storm. Move outdoor hutches and cages into a secure building.
• Keep pets indoors during severe weather. Take dogs outside only for short toilet breaks on a lead.
• Keep dogs on a lead after heavy snowfall, as they can easily get lost in the snow.
• Wipe dogs' paws, legs and bellies after walks to remove ice and de-icing salt.

• Move horses and farmed animals to sheltered areas with feed and water before the storm arrives. Avoid low ground where snow collects.
• Provide extra hay and feed, and feed more often if needed. Do not change feed types suddenly.
• Give donkeys dry shelter at all times because their coats are not waterproof. Offer lukewarm water, as many donkeys refuse very cold water.
• Consider well-fitted rugs for elderly, ill or thin donkeys. Keep a clean, dry spare in case a rug becomes wet.
• Protect llamas and alpacas from rain and strong winds. Keep animals with wet fleece indoors until it is fully dry.

This advice applies to zoos, sanctuaries, rescue centres and privately kept wild animals.

• Agree on an emergency plan with local authorities covering power cuts, heating failures, water shortages and blocked roads.
• Keep backup equipment for heating, water and life-support systems on site, and test it regularly.
• Provide shelter from cold, rain and wind.
• Inspect enclosures and barriers after heavy snowfall. Keep animals secure until damage is repaired.
• Check outdoor elephants frequently when temperatures fall below 4°C (40°F). Heat indoor areas to at least 13°C (55°F), following appropriate veterinary guidance.

• Keep bird baths free of ice and provide fresh, clean tap water.
• Never use antifreeze or salt to thaw ponds, bird baths or other wildlife water sources.
• If a pond freezes, use a saucepan of hot water placed on the ice to melt a hole. Never pour boiling water directly onto the ice or break it by force.
• Offer garden birds extra food in cold weather. Remove old food first and provide only what birds will eat within one or two days.
• Leave hibernating animals undisturbed.
• Do not feed or treat injured wild animals. Contact a veterinarian or local wildlife rescue organisation.

No. Animals need a continuous supply of clean, unfrozen water. Eating snow uses body heat to melt it. Animals that do not drink enough may eat less and produce less body heat. Horses that drink insufficient water are at increased risk of colic.

Check drinking water at least twice daily during freezing weather and remove ice regularly.

Signs include shivering, an arched back, huddling, reluctance to move, weakness and pale or bluish gums. Newborn animals may feel cold, become weak or stop feeding.

Cold animals may also develop breathing problems or diarrhoea. Contact a veterinarian if you notice heavy breathing, nasal discharge or diarrhoea. An animal that collapses or cannot stand needs immediate veterinary care.

For more information, see guidance on recognising hypothermia and frostbite in pets

• Move the animal out of the wind and into a dry place, if safe.
• Dry wet fur or fleece and provide deep, dry bedding.
• Warm the animal gradually. Use dry blankets for small or newborn animals.
• Offer lukewarm water and suitable feed if the animal is alert and able to swallow.
• Contact a veterinarian.

Never use hot water, hairdryers or other direct heat. Keep heaters and heat lamps away from hay, straw and bedding because they can cause fires. Never risk your own safety to reach an animal.

Do not attempt to feed or treat it yourself. Contact a veterinarian or local wildlife rescue organisation. Leave hibernating animals undisturbed.

Do not put yourself in danger to reach an animal. Contact a veterinarian or the appropriate emergency service for urgent assistance. In the European Union, 112 is the common emergency number.