Winter Health Care Tips.

General Concerns

Winter's cold air brings many concerns for responsible dog owners. Keep the followingprecautions in mind:

Don't leave your dog outside in the cold for long periods of time.Wind-chill makes days colder than actual temperature readings. Be attentive to your dog's body temperature, and limit its time outdoors.

Adequate shelter is a necessity. Keep your dog warm, dry and away fromdrafts. Tiles and uncarpeted areas may become extremely cold, so make sureto place blankets and pads on floors in these areas.

Be extra careful when walking or playing with your dog near frozen lakes, riversor ponds. Your dog could slip or jump in and get seriously injured.

Groom your dog regularly. Your dog needs a well-groomed coat to keepproperly insulated. Short- or coarse-haired dogs may get extra cold, so
consider a sweater or coat. Long-haired dogs should have their paw-hairclipped to ease snow removal and the cleaning of their feet.

Feed your dog additional calories if it spends a lot of time outdoors or is aworking animal. It takes more energy in the winter to keep body temperatureregulated, so additional calories are necessary.

Towel or blow-dry your dog if it gets wet from rain or snow. It is important to dryand clean its paws, too. This helps avoid tiny cuts and cracked pads. A littlepetroleum jelly may soften the pads and prevent further cracking.

Don't leave your dog alone in a car. It gets too cold, and carbon monoxide froman engine left running is dangerous.
 

Health Tips

Dogs cannot talk to us when they are sick. As a responsible dog owner, it isimportant to pay special attention to your dog's well-being during the winter season.

Remember the following health concerns:

Antifreeze, which often collects on driveways and roadways, is highlypoisonous. Although it smells and tastes good to your dog, it can be lethal.

Rock salt, used to melt ice on sidewalks, may irritate footpads. Be sure torinse and dry your dog's feet after a walk.

Provide plenty of fresh water. Your dog is just as likely to get dehydrated in thewinter as in the summer. Snow is not a satisfactory substitute for water.

Frostbite is your dog's winter hazard. To prevent frostbite on its ears, tail andfeet, don't leave your dog outdoors for too long.

Be very careful of supplemental heat sources. Fireplaces and portable heaterscan severely burn your dog. Make sure all fireplaces have screens, and keepportable heaters out of reach.

Like people, dogs seem to be more susceptible to illness in the winter. Takeyour dog to a veterinarian if you see any suspicious symptoms.

Don't use over-the-counter medications on your dog without consulting aveterinarian.
 

Holiday Safeguards

The winter season brings lots of fun holiday festivities, but pet-owners should keep inmind the following special precautions:

The holidays are not ideal for introducing a pet into your family. New puppiesand dogs require extra attention and a stable environment, which the holidayseason doesn't permit. Also, a puppy is not a toy or gift that can be returned.Instead, the AKC suggests giving a festively wrapped can of dog food or aleash as a symbol of the dog to come.

Holly, mistletoe and poinsettia plants are pet poisons! Make sure they are kept in places your dog cannot reach.

Review holiday gifts for dogs to make sure they are safe. Items such as plastictoys and small rawhide sticks may be dangerous.

Remove holiday lights from lower branches of your tree. They may get very hotand burn dogs.

Watch out for electrical cords. Pets often try to chew them and may get badlyshocked or electrocuted. Place wires out of reach.

Avoid using glass ornaments. They break easily and may cut a dog's feet andmouth.

Refrain from using edible ornaments. Your dog may knock the tree over in anattempt to eat them. Also, commercial ornaments may contain paint or toxinsin the preservatives.

Whether your tree is live or artificial, both kinds of needles are sharp andindigestible. Keep your tree fenced in or in a room that can be blocked off. Aplaypen, for example, may act as a barrier.

Tinsel is dangerous for dogs. It may obstruct circulation and, if swallowed,block the intestines.

Alcohol and chocolate are toxic for dogs, even in small amounts. Keepeggnog, sweet treats and other seasonal goodies out of reach.

The holiday season is a stressful time for dogs. Try to keep a normal scheduleduring all the excitement.