My Friendly Pets

Where I reside in the northeast; New York to be precise, we have been “blessed” with an extension of summer that lasted right through the first week in October. In fact, yesterday we had record breaking temperatures in the 80’s. However, the weather is changing and reality is setting in. Our temperatures tomorrow won’t get out of the 60’s and it is a cold (yes, that is a pun) reminder of the season yet to come.

When the change of seasons arrive, many of us prepare by purchasing season appropriate clothing and things we know that will keep us warm and free from the elements of winter. It is important to realize that our dogs need protection from these elements as well and that preparing them for the season of snow and ice is just as important. It may be even more so. We don’t generally cover our dogs from head to toe, because we believe that nature gave them a coat that protects them from the elements. But remember, dogs are domesticated animals and have gotten used to the warmth and comfort of inside a home and are not meant to spend long periods of time in very cold temperatures or in ice and snow.

Here are some great tips to preparing your home and your pet for the winter months.

1. Coats and booties can keep your dog warm. Short haired and older dogs are especially vulnerable to the cold temperatures. Protecting their bodies and their paws from frostbite and other “winter chemicals” is critical.

Remember, a lot of people are utilizing more anti-freeze and ice removing products this time of year and the remnants of which fall to the ground. Many of these products are toxic. A dog walking through these chemicals and licking their paws may be setting themselves up for disaster. The salt that is used to melt the ice on roadways can also sting and irritate a dog’s paws.

2. If you don’t use doggie booties, (of which there are some great products on the web), make sure you wipe of your dogs paws, legs and underbelly to remove clumps of snow and ice. Rubbing your dog down with a warm cloth will get these ice and snow clumps off gently without tearing at their fur and could help to prevent frostbite.

3. It is advised to keep your dog on a leash, especially during winter months. Dogs can lose their scent in the winter and they can become lost more quickly. Unknown to me, there are more dogs reported lost in the winter than in any other season. Snow and ice storms can distort a dogs sense of location and with a chance of weaker scents available, it is easy for them to become confused and disoriented. Always keep proper identification on your dog.

4. In terms of fur and skin care, it is important that you brush your dog often. Their winter coat of fur tends to be thicker and coarser to protect them from the elements, but it also has the potential of becoming matted, if not properly cared for. Also, the dryness of indoor heating systems can deplete moisture from the dog’s skin, similar to what the dry heat does to us. Brushing their fur will help to maintain a healthy, shiny coat and increase circulation and moisture to the dog’s skin.

There is some great outerwear for dogs available on many websites. The jackets above are from www.handsnpaws.com. Take a look, they have some great stuff!!!

Winter is a good time to hibernate. Its also a great time to catch up on all the shows we missed when we were outside enjoying the summer sun. For some great inside info on sitcoms check out http://www.watchingsitcoms.com/