Tips to Protect Your Animals from the Cold Weather

Winters in our area a long and cold. Aside from snowmobiling and playing outside with my daughter, I spend a great deal of time inside this time of year and so does my dog, especially with the frigid temperatures lately!

My dog goes outside to do her business and get her exercise chasing the ball, but other than that she’s definitely an indoor dog. She even stands at the front door and barks when she’s ready to come back inside. I couldn’t even imagine leaving that poor dog outside in the freezing cold for any amount of time.

The ASPCA recommends several tips to protect your animals from the cold weather. Here are a few of them.

• You should always wipe off your dog's paw, legs and stomach when he comes in out of inclement weather. He can ingest salt, antifreeze or other potentially dangerous chemicals while licking his paws; and his paw pads may also bleed from snow or encrusted ice. And I want to ad that it will save you from cleaning up a mess on the floors of your home as well.
• Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter, as a longer coat will provide more warmth. If you’re worried about your dog getting cold consider getting him a coat or sweater.
• 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.
• Does your dog spend a lot of time engaged in outdoor activities? Increase his supply of food, particularly protein, to keep him, and his fur, in tip-top shape.
• Make sure your pet has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. I swear, my dog’s bed is almost as big as mine!

There are many more tips to keep your fur babies safe and warm during the winter months. Please don’t leave them outside. Take the inside and give them lots of love and attention!