Major snowstorms like Monday’s event can have devastating consequences for our faithful, furry companions.

Guthrie County Veterinarian Dr. William Frels says most of the dangerous cases they see during the winter months come from animals running at-large during severe weather.

“We worry about pets running away and being away from home. That’s probably the most often time we’ll see something like that. The pets get worked up and disoriented in the severe weather, so then, it might take a long time to find them and that’s when we’ll see some cases of hypothermia.”

Dr. Frels offers a tip to help your lost pet return safely if you know where they were seen last.

“If you have an extra sweatshirt or something you wear that would have your smell on it and you know the last place you saw them, it might be good to leave that there and check that area often to make sure that they are able to find their way home or you’re giving them the best chance to find their way home.”

He adds that if you need to let your pet outside when it’s cold to watch for signs they’re getting too cold like chewing on snow build up in paw pads as well as shaking of the legs to remove excess snow.