BURLINGTON, Mass. –With winter weather dominating much of the U.S.,

PetPace, the provider of innovative health monitoring technology for pets, is urging pet owners to act to protect their pets.

From reports of pets dying after being left outside, to iguanas falling from the trees of Florida, this year’s winter season has shown deadly potential for animals left exposed to the elements.

According to Dr. Asaf Dagan, the chief veterinarian of PetPace, pet owners must consider the danger that extreme temperatures pose to pets left outdoors. “This is an extremely serious matter. Certain areas of the U.S. have been seeing record cold temperatures and are among the coldest places on earth. Even if your pet has thick fur, frostbite can occur in minutes on their extremities. With prolonged exposure, cold temperatures can cause hypothermia and may be deadly,” said Dr. Asaf Dagan, chief veterinarian at PetPace.

Negligent pet owners can face fines and even criminal charges if their pet is left outside in extremely cold weather.

Experts at PetPace recommend pet owners keep their pet indoors when temperatures fall below freezing, and keep trips outside short, unless their pet has been outfitted with protective clothing, like special boots or jackets.

Knowing how to identify dangerous health conditions, like frostbite and hypothermia, is essential.

A pet’s toes, ears, tail, belly and private parts are all susceptible to frostbite. It is typically indicated by a pale hue, caused by a lack of blood flow. If you suspect your pet has frostbite act immediately. Warm a towel or cloth and gently apply it to the affected areas. If blood flow does not return to the areas making it pink again, seek immediate veterinary medical attention.

Additionally, salt and chemicals applied to sidewalks or roads to melt ice can be hazardous to your pet. Make sure to use pet-friendly ice melts when clearing your property’s paved surfaces and always wash your pet’s feet with warm, not hot water, if you believe they have encountered unsafe chemicals on the ground.

To further help safeguard a pet from dangerous cold temperatures and other conditions, pet owners should consider outfitting them with a PetPace health monitoring smart collar.

PetPace’s Health Monitoring Solution allows pet owners to track vital signs like temperature, pulse, respiration, plus heart rate variability, activity and calories, right from their smartphone or internet connected device.

PetPace is also a powerful safeguard for helping to protect a pet’s health in general. The device’s biometric sensors constantly monitor a pet’s vital signs and can notify the pet’s owner via a smartphone alert in the event of a medical emergency, like below normal body temperatures.

Through PetPace’s mobile application pet owners can get an in-depth look into nearly every metric of their pet’s health. Recorded data is displayed in easy to understand graphical interface, making it easy to monitor specific aspects of a pet’s health and wellbeing over time.