Veterinarians say it is important for dogs to get exercise and stimulation, even in the winter, but it is important to check on your pups for signs it’s time to come inside.

Dr. Bari Morris, a veterinarian at Shoreline VCA Veterinary Hospital in Shelton, says bigger and shaggier dogs bred for the cold are going to be able to handle longer times outside than small shorthaired pups.

Morris says never leave your dog unattended outside during a storm - no matter the length of time.

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After the clouds clear, Morris says that salt on streets and sidewalks can pose another danger to your four-legged friends.

“There’s certainly plenty of salt products that are labeled pet safe - none of them are truly fully pet safe. So we don’t want them to have access to ingest the products, and if they’re spending a lot of time walking on an of the products, we definitely recommend you wipe their feet really well, or rinse their feet when they come back inside,” Morris says.

Veterinarians say smaller pets should be kept inside no matter what time of year it is.

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