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.