STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Remembering the “four P’s” of freeze safety -- people, pets, plants and pipes -- is an adage heard constantly this time of year, but doing so will be even more critical than normal during the week of Jan. 20-24 as temperatures are projected to dip below freezing and stay there for several days in Mississippi.

Caring for pets in prolonged cold weather will not involve many adjustments for owners of indoor pets, but protecting outside pets and livestock in these conditions requires extra attention.

Carla Huston, Mississippi State University Extension Service veterinarian and professor with the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine, said indoors is the best place for all pets to be when temperatures stay below freezing for days at a time. There are alternatives, however, to shield them from the elements when bringing them inside the home is not feasible.

“The big thing is to provide a shelter to protect your animals from wind and moisture,” Huston said. “If you have a garage or shed, even if it’s unheated, keeping pets there during a cold snap is a good option, but heat lamps and space heaters in an area that doesn’t create a fire hazard are handy to have this time of year. Try to avoid blankets unless the pet will be in an indoor area. Blankets can get wet and hold in moisture, which makes it easier for animals to get frostbite or hypothermia.

“It is recommended that outdoor dog owners put straw in a doghouse, large barrel, or other enclosure where the animal can keep warm, but any shelter should be in an area that is draft and moisture-free,” she added. “Windbreaks can be made from tarps or other large pieces of material. If possible, try to acclimate your pet to any type of new surroundings before the temperature falls.”

Mike Brown, state climatologist and meteorology professor at MSU, said the northern quarter of the state may spend 72-96 consecutive hours at or below freezing, while areas south of there, near U.S. Highway 82, will likely experience 48-72 hours of those conditions. Interstate 20 and southward will likely have afternoon highs above freezing but overnight lows below freezing, including the coastal counties.

“We are seeing a large and rather strong area of high pressure over the northern Pacific near the Gulf of Alaska,” Brown said. “This is providing a mechanism by which the jet stream will dive into the central U.S., bringing very cold air from northern Canada southward. Given we are at the climatologically coldest period for much of Canada and the northern U.S., the air we will experience may be 20 to 25 degrees colder than normal for this time of year.”

Signs of animal distress in these conditions include constant shivering, lethargy, dilated pupils and a weak pulse. In these cases, warming the animal up until it reaches a body temperature of at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit is critical, especially if the animal is wet. The normal body temperature of a dog is approximately 101.8 degrees, and temperatures under 99 are cause for concern.

“You can place a hair dryer, a heat lamp or portable heater close enough to the animal where it can warm up gradually and dry off, but be careful to not overheat the animal or leave it unattended,” Huston said. “Don’t exercise or play with pets outside a lot in extreme cold, and wipe off the pads of their feet when they come back indoors to keep them dry and clean.”

Huston also recommends keeping outdoor pets’ food and water supply well stocked.

“Digestion warms animals up, so you want to provide pets a little extra food during cold weather because it gives them energy to help them maintain their body temperature,” she said.

These guidelines also apply to owners of livestock, Huston said. If farm animals are not housed in a barn, they can be moved to an area with a wind block. An example would be a pasture with a pine tree stand.

“Most of your livestock are going to be OK as long as they can get a break from the wind, but rolling out an extra bale of hay or providing more feed is even more important to helping them maintain their body temperature,” she said. “A fresh source of water is needed because animals that are withheld from water for days at a time can be subject to water deprivation or fatal salt toxicity.”

Cows that are calving must also have a dry, warm area during a cold snap.

“Newborn animals are wet, so it’s necessary to provide their expectant mothers a dry place, preferably a barn or protected area in the pasture, where they can calve out,” Huston said. “Make sure the baby gets dried off before facing the elements on its own.”