When the first cold nights reach Abbotsford, wood stoves, space heaters and heated pet beds come back out, and each brings its own risk. Cats press against hot surfaces, puppies chew cords, and older pets lie on heat they cannot easily move away from. Burns often hide under fur for days, so any contact is worth checking.
Why the risk rises now
Nights in the Fraser Valley cool quickly once autumn sets in, and later in the season outflow winds can bring sharp cold snaps. Heating equipment that has sat in a garage all summer gets plugged in or lit, often in a hurry and often in a different spot from last year. Pets have forgotten about it, and in the case of a new puppy or kitten, have never met it.
Many heating injuries in pets are not dramatic. They are slow contact burns from lying too close for too long, or electrical injuries from a chewed cord. Both are easy to miss.
Device by device
Wood stoves and fireplaces
The glass front and the metal body of a stove stay dangerously hot long after the flames look finished. Cats like the top and the hearth, dogs like the rug in front, and tails swing through the gap. Sparks jump when the door opens and a wagging tail or curious nose can be right there.
- Put a sturdy guard in front that a pet cannot knock over or climb.
- Keep beds and blankets well back from the hearth, not tucked against it.
- Empty ash into a metal bucket with a lid and leave it outside, away from the house. Ash can hold live embers for days, and pets will investigate a warm bucket.
Space heaters
Portable heaters get placed wherever someone feels cold, which is often on the floor at pet height. Cats curl up against them, long-haired dogs lie close enough to singe fur, and a heater knocked over by a playing dog is a fire risk as well as a burn risk.
- Choose a heater with a tip-over switch and a cool-touch casing if you are buying one.
- Set it where a pet cannot lie against it, and never leave it running in an empty room with a pet inside.
Heated beds, pads and blankets
These can be a real comfort for a stiff older dog or a thin cat, but they cause burns when a pet cannot or will not move off them. An arthritic dog, a pet recovering from surgery, or a very sleepy senior cat may stay on a heat source that is slowly injuring the skin.
- Use products made for pets, on the lowest setting that keeps them comfortable.
- Always leave part of the bed unheated so your pet can shift away.
- Check the cord daily for chewing, and route it where it cannot be reached.
Cords and chargers
Heating season adds extension cords and plugged-in heaters to the floor, and puppies, kittens and rabbits chew anything that dangles. A bite through a live cord can burn the lips, gums and tongue, and it can lead to fluid in the lungs over the following day or so. If you find a pet chewing a live cord, switch off the power at the wall or unplug it before you touch them, and if you cannot, push the cord away with something dry and non-metal. Any pet who has bitten through a live cord should be seen straight away, however normal the mouth appears.
Burns hide under fur
A contact burn can take several days to show fully. Watch for fur that looks singed, feels crisp or comes away easily, skin that looks red, weepy or leathery, or a pet who suddenly flinches when touched in one place. Cats sometimes show curled or shortened whiskers after getting too close to a flame.
If you find a burn, hold the area under gently running cool tap water for up to ten minutes if your pet tolerates it, and keep them from licking it. Skip ice, butter, oils and home creams, which can deepen the damage or hide it. Leave it uncovered and phone our medical services team, because even small burns can be deeper than they look.
For a chewed live cord, breathing trouble, collapse, or a burn over a large area, phone our urgent care team before you set off. A veterinarian is not on duty for every hour we are open, so that call lets us tell you whether to come here or go straight to an open emergency hospital. Outside our hours, go directly to the nearest emergency hospital that is open.
Older pets who chase the heat
A senior dog or cat who suddenly spends every evening pressed against the stove may be seeking warmth to ease stiff joints. That is worth a look at a wellness program visit, both for their comfort and because they are the pets most likely to stay on heat too long.
Wood smoke is part of the season too. Our guide to wildfire smoke and air quality in East Abbotsford covers how smoky air affects dogs and cats, which applies to a smoky room as much as a smoky summer.
Frequently asked questions
My cat sleeps on top of the wood stove when it is off. Is that a problem?
Only when it is lit or cooling down. Cats do not always connect a favourite spot with changing temperatures, so block access with a guard whenever the stove is in use.
Is a heated pet bed safe to leave on overnight?
A low-wattage bed made for pets, with room to move off it, is generally fine for a healthy pet. For a pet who cannot move easily, use it only while you are around to check.
How do I know if my puppy chewed a cord?
If the cord is still plugged in, turn the power off before you touch your puppy. Then look for bite marks on the cord, a burning smell, or a puppy who drools, paws at the mouth or will not eat, check the lips, gums and tongue for pale, grey or raw patches, and phone us straight away.
Can a burn really take days to show?
Yes. Fur insulates and hides the skin, so a contact burn is often found days later when the fur starts to come away. That is why checking after any contact matters.
Do rabbits and guinea pigs have extra risks?
They are keen chewers of cords, and they cannot sweat or pant well to cool down if a heater is too close. Keep cords protected and heaters well away from their enclosures.
What about carbon monoxide from the stove?
Fuel-burning stoves and furnaces need working carbon monoxide alarms. Pets can be affected by it before people notice anything, so if an alarm goes off, get everyone out, pets included, and call for help from outside. Then have any exposed pets checked by a veterinarian, even if they seem to recover.
Speak to the team at Glenn Mountain Animal Hospital
If your pet has been burned or has chewed a live cord, phone us before you come in, or head to the nearest open emergency hospital after hours.
Published by the team at Glenn Mountain Animal Hospital.
This article is for general educational purposes only and is not a substitute for an in-person veterinary examination or advice about your individual pet. If you have an urgent concern about your pet, contact Glenn Mountain Animal Hospital or your nearest emergency veterinary hospital right away.
Glenn Mountain Animal Hospital
#106-2596 McMillan Road, Abbotsford, BC V3G 1C4
Phone: (604) 852-3030
Email: [email protected]
Hours: Monday to Saturday 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM; Sunday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM