Winter Pet Safety Tips

Tis the season to be snowy….and cold! Chances are if it feels too cold for you outside, it’s also too cold for your pet. My dog Max, an 8-year-old Chihuahua and the love of my life, hates going out in the winter. The time it takes him to do his businesses in the back yard decreases exponentially as the temperature falls. Other dogs, such as Labrador Retrievers or Siberian Huskies, may find frolicking in a fresh snow to be a fabulous time.  Either way, here are some tips to keep your dog safe and healthy this winter.

·         Thoroughly wipe off your dog's legs and stomach when he comes in out of the sleet, snow or ice. He can ingest salt, antifreeze or other potentially dangerous chemicals while licking his paws, and his paw pads may also bleed from snow or ice.

·         Never leave your dog or cat alone in a car during cold weather. A car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death.

·         If Santa brought a Christmas puppy to your family, remember that puppies do not tolerate the cold as well as adult dogs, and may be difficult to housebreak during the winter. If your puppy appears to be sensitive to the weather, you may opt to paper-train him inside. I opted for this with Max, who I also got around Christmas time. I recommend using an indoor pee pad in an out of the way location in your home, especially for small dogs.

·         Be sure to keep your pet's leash on at all times when you bring him out in the first big snow of the year. He might bolt once he goes outside, especially if this is his first time playing in the snow in a while.

·         If your dog spends a lot of time doing outdoor activities, you may need to increase your dog’s food intake. Also, just because it’s cold out doesn’t mean you dog can’t get dehydrated. Have plenty of fresh water available when he comes inside.

Note: When I’m not blogging, I’m working in the corporate public relations department at Nestle Purina PetCare. Feel free to contact me with any other pet-related questions via Twitter @missyandmax and if I can't answer your question I will gladly direct you to someone who will.  

I Ran Over Santa in the Produce Aisle

I once bumped into Santa Claus while pushing a red and green shopping cart in the produce section of a grocery store called Holiday Foods. I bounced back, of course, since we all know his belly shook like a bowl full of jelly.

    Are you thinking this was just a dream I’d had after downing too much eggnog? Nope, it’s a true story.

    A few years before moving to the St. Louis area, I lived in a festive little town named Santa Claus, located in Southern Indiana. In addition to buying my groceries at Holiday Foods, my house was on December 25^th Lane in a subdivision called Christmas Lake Village.  I regularly stopped for coffee at the Silent Night Café en route to my office in the Kringle Place Shopping Center, where I worked doing public relations for the merry little town.

  

    Promoting Christmas 365 days a year was an amazing job opportunity, and every year about this time I miss the craziness that was Christmas in Santa Claus. If you’re looking for a holiday getaway, with just about a three hour drive, you can be sipping milk and munching Christmas Cookies at Santa’s Lodge or staying in a cozy cabin at Lake Rudolph. Then, you can round out your trip with a visit to Santa’s Candy Castle, The Santa Claus Museum, or the Santa Claus Christmas Store. At the Santa Claus Post Office, you can mail your holiday cards with a hand-stamped picture postmark. You might even think you’re at the North Pole….or maybe that’s just the eggnog…..

For more information holiday-themed events and attractions in Santa Claus, Ind., visit http://www.santaclausind.org/

Holiday Lights

Last year was my first trip through the blinking and twinkling display that is Celebration of Lights in O’Fallon’s Fort Zumwalt Park. The kids dressed up the dogs, one as Santa and one as an elf, and we all piled into the car to see the sparkling spectacle.    

This year, if you’re looking for someplace different to see Christmas lights, here are some more bright spots just a short drive away:

St. Louis Zoo’s Wild Lights – This display is going on through Friday through Sunday evenings through Dec. 14 and nightly Dec. 19-23, Dec. 26-30 and Jan. 2-3. The zoo boasts 500,000 lights, along with live music, craft stations and storytelling for the whole family to enjoy. Cost is$7; $6 for members; free for children under 2. For more info visit stlzoo.org

Anheuser-Busch Holiday Lights - Drive-through tours Monday through Wednesday until Dec. 31 at Busch Place and Arsenal Street. Walking tours are available Thursday through Sundaynights through Jan. 4. This is a free activity. For more info visit anheuser-busch.com.

Missouri Botanical Garden –This is the second year for the Garden Glow event transforms the space into a winter wonderland with dazzling installations amid some of the Garden's most iconic locations. Ticket prices vary. For more info visit mobot.org.

The Polar Express Holiday Dinner Adventure - You can dine from a buffet in the elaborately decorated Majestic Grand Hall at Union Station, where a light show features scenes from the movie “The Polar Express.”  Tickets are available nightly through Dec. 28, $15-$25 per person. For more info visit stlpolarexpressride.com.