Arctic air means extra care for pets

HARRISBURG, Ark. — When arctic air arrives, pets need extra care, said Craig Allen, Poinsett County extension staff chair for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

The National Weather Service at Little Rock said Wednesday that “by the weekend/early next week, Arctic air will surge into the region from the northwest. This will result in below to much below-average temperatures.”

Lows in Little Rock were expected to fall into the single digits by Monday night, with the forecast high on Tuesday being 27 degrees, the weather service said.

Boston the dog sits in the snow. Taken February 2021. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo by Kerry Rodtnick)

“Outdoor pets need a sheltered place that is well bedded with dry straw, shavings, blanket strips or other insulating material that traps warm air,” he said. “Check it often and change it whenever it gets wet.

“Be sure to have adequate food and water available. Heated water bowls are handy to have,” Allen said.

Owners need to limit the amount of time indoor pets are exposed to extreme temperatures. Short-haired dog breeds such as greyhounds, Dobermans, boxers, Chihuahuas and miniature breeds “shouldn’t go outside without a sweater or coat, except for short periods to relieve themselves,” Allen said.

Cats, even outdoor cats, will seek warm spots, and sometimes in dangerous ways.

“Cats left outdoors will often crawl into a warm car engine compartment to get warm,” Allen said. “The cat can be seriously injured or killed by the fan blade or fan belt the next time the car is started. Be sure to check for cats or other animals that might have sought out the warmth of your car.”

Schnauzer gets some playtime in the snow in Fayetteville. Taken Jan. 5, 2024. (U of A System Division of Agriculture still courtesy Kwan Seo).

Preparing vehicles for cold weather service can mean adding or changing antifreeze. Pets can be drawn to spilled antifreeze because of its taste, but antifreeze with ethylene glycol is toxic to pets even in very small quantities.

“Promptly clean up any spills,” he said. “Antifreeze is attractive to pets and can be deadly, even in very small amounts.”

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.

HALLOWEEN: Keep your jack-o’-lantern looking young through Halloween

By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture

HARRISBURG, Ark. — A little bit of olive oil can help your jack-o’-lantern keep its youthful countenance through Halloween, says Craig Allen, Poinsett County extension staff chair.

Allen says keeping a Halloween pumpkin looking its best begins with the selection.

Five artfully carved pumpkins adorn the front steps. Getting the longest life out of your jack-o'-lantern begins with selection. (Image by Julie Thompson, credit mandatory)

“Make sure the pumpkin is free from soft spots, cuts, bruises or punctures and that the flesh is hard,” he said. “Make sure that about 3 inches of stem is still attached.”

The hard flesh of a dry pumpkin makes it less likely to rot. Carving will open the way to collapse and decomposition. 

“Depending on the weather conditions, your jack-o’-lantern may last from a day to a week,” he said. “You can slow the dehydration process by coating all the cut parts with olive or other vegetable oil — including the inside.

“This acts as a barrier to dehydration, which causes the pumpkin to collapse,” Allen said. “Storing the jack-o’-lantern in the shade can help slow decomposition.”

Once the jack-o’-lantern has served its purpose, it can go into the compost pile.

Cooking pumpkins

Pumpkins are also good eats; however, “it is not recommended that you eat the jack-o’-lantern style pumpkins,” said Baxter County Extension Agent LeeAnn Blevins.

“You can roast the seeds, but once you’ve cut a face on the pumpkin and allowed them to sit outside, they are no longer ready to eat,” she said.

Pumpkins pack a good nutrition punch too. One-half cup of canned pumpkin provides 4 grams of fiber, no fat or cholesterol and has only 50 calories, Blevins said.

If you want to work with a fresh pumpkin, she said, there are a couple of ways to make the flesh usable. The first is peeling the pumpkin, cutting the flesh into chunks and steaming them. Once steamed, the chunks can be pureed and used in a variety of recipes.

“An alternative is to bake the unpeeled, seeded pumpkin halves in a 325-degree oven for about one hour or until tender,” she said. “Scoop out the flesh and then puree. Use the pumpkin puree for your favorite recipes immediately, or you may freeze it for up to one year in a freezer-safe container.”

Contact your county extension office for more information.

Learn more about pumpkins.

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.