MARTINS FERRY — As weather conditions continue to be blistering cold, Belmont County Dog Warden Lisa Duvall is warning residents to pay close attention to their pets.

Duvall urges residents to not tie dogs outside in this weather.

“I would go out with it because that way you have eyes on the dog,” she said. “It should only be out to try and go to the bathroom and then come back in.”

Duvall added that frostbite and hypothermia are both serious conditions and a real possibility as temperatures reach the negatives in coming days.

“You have to watch for the feet, ears, nose and gums. If they’re too cold, they’ll lift their paws off the ground when they’re walking. That’s why I tell people to walk their dogs. Or at least stand out there,” Duvall said. “Even if your dog won’t go on a leash, stand out there with them and you can watch and see if they’re getting anxious or holding their feet up and stuff like that.

She added that salt rock is harmful to dogs’ feet. She said that if you have animals and when you’re maintaining your sidewalks and driveway to make sure pet friendly salt rock is being used. Various companies make pet friendly salt and it is available virtually anywhere regular rock salt is purchased.

The American Veterinary Medical Association says to check your dog’s paws frequently for signs of cold-weather injury or damage, such as cracked or bleeding paw pads.

“During a walk, a sudden lameness may be due to an injury or may be due to ice accumulation between his/her toes. You may be able to reduce the chance of iceball accumulation by clipping the hair between your dog’s toes,” as stated on the American Veterinary Medical Association’s website.

The Animal Humane Society provided symptoms of hypothermia in pets on its website. It said that weak pulse, dilated pupils, decreased heart rate, extreme shivering, pale or blue mucous membranes, body temperature below 95 degrees and unconsciousness are all symptoms that need to be taken very seriously.

“Anybody that’s got a dog tied outside, please bring it in somewhere. A garage, basement, barn, or somewhere that it’s not getting hit with this wind chill. It’s still cold, but that wind chill will freeze them,” Duvall said. “People gotta think, take your shoes off and walk out there and see how fast you want to go back in, how fast your feet get cold. Or put a light jacket on and walk out with your dog. That’ll tell you exactly what they’re feeling.”

She added that it does depend on the dog’s coat or the size of a dog. All pets can’t stay in the harsh conditions for an extended period of time but some dogs like huskies are more accustomed to colder weather.

“The smaller dogs can’t stay in the cold. I bet you they’re only out for a minute and a half. Do their business and they’re wanting back in. But the hair dogs, like huskies, love it. There’s many variables,” Duvall said.