Power outages are dark, cold times for humans and pets alike. However, there’s no need to worry. There are lots of easy ways to keep your furry, scaly, or feathery friend safe and warm during a winter power outage. We’ve outlined a few tips and tricks to help you get started.

4

Make an easy DIY dog sweater.

  1. You just need an old hoodie or sweater and some scissors. Find an old sweater and cut the sleeves off. Then, put your dog’s head through the neck opening (if it’s too tight, you can cut the opening so it’s bigger) and slide their legs through the sleeve holes. Now your dog has a cozy sweater to keep them warm.[7]
    • This DIY sweater works best for big dogs, but you can still make an easy no-sew sweater if you have a small dog. Just cut one of the sleeves off of an old sweater or hoodie and cut off the wrist-end so the sleeve is the same length as your dog. Then, cut out two half circles, one on each side of the sleeve, to make the holes for your dog’s front legs. Slide the sweater over your dog so their head goes through the narrow end and their front legs go through the small holes.[8]
6

Insulate your bird’s cage.

  1. An extra blanket helps warm your bird during a power outage. Surround the cage with a towel or blanket, which will help preserve some warmth. Wrap warm water bottles with towels and place them under your bird’s cage to provide a little extra heat. You can also fill and tie off rubber gloves with warm water if you don’t have any spare bottles.[10]
    • Birds can survive in temperatures between 50 to 59 °F (10 to 15 °C), but they won’t do well below that. If your bird fluffs up its feathers and doesn’t eat, there’s a good chance that it’s cold.[11]
    • Move your bird’s cage away from any windows in case any drafts blow in.[12]
    • As an extra precaution, keep your bird cage away from candles, or fireplaces—these can give off smoke, fumes, and vapors that are unpleasant for your bird. When the power comes back on, keep your bird away from any space heaters, as these also create fumes.

Warnings

  • Try not to leave your pet home alone at any point during a power outage. If you have to leave your home for a short period of time, leave your pets in a warm, indoor area where they can move around.[21]
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  • Don’t feed your fish while the power’s out. The leftover food will dirty the water and fill the environment with extra nitrogen. Many fish can go for days and weeks without eating, so you don’t have to worry.[22]
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About This Article

Janice Tieperman
Co-authored by:
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman. Janice is a professional and creative writer who has worked at wikiHow since 2019. With both a B.A. and M.A. in English from East Stroudsburg University, she has a passion for writing a wide variety of content for anyone and everyone. In her free time, you can find her working on a new crochet pattern, listening to true crime podcasts, or tackling a new creative writing project. This article has been viewed 12,132 times.
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Co-authors: 10
Updated: February 7, 2023
Views: 12,132
Categories: Pet Hazards
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