Hidden Hazards for Pets

My doggie sixth sense tells me that… yup, it’s cold. OK, um, maybe EVERYONE can tell you that. Humans have their ways of staying warm and comfortable during winter, but we pets need a little extra TLC. Check out my tips for protecting your pet from Old Man Winter.

Warm and wonderful: If you have outdoor pets, make sure they have access to someplace to shelter them from the cold—like a garage or doghouse. Some warm, fuzzy blankets in there wouldn’t hurt, either. Most importantly, make sure your pet has enough water and maybe even a little extra food to give their bodies more energy to stay warm.

Icky ice-melters: Snow removal products that humans scatter on the driveway and on sidewalks smell really interesting to animals (trust me, I know), so sometimes we like to check it out a little too closely—like, in our mouths for example. But, these products can be very dangerous to animals, so make sure they are kept out of your pet’s reach.

Paw protection: Now, I like a good doggie pedicure à la Isabel, but in between visits, Charlotte wipes down my paws with a wet cloth after we’ve been out for a walk. Snow removal products, salt, and sand on the ground in wintertime can irritate our paws and make them all itchy. Taking a few seconds to clean them off makes a BIG difference.

Cold cars: If you take your pets for a ride in the car when you’re out shopping, remember that leaving us in the car too long can be dangerous. It can get really cold in there! Brrr! Bring along a blanket that your pet can curl up in while he waits patiently for you and your parents to run into a store. And then give him a really big, delicious, chewy bone as a treat for being an amazing pet.

you tell us ...

How do you take special care of your pets?

Woof,

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