Today we are most fortunate to have, as our guest blogger, Janice Miller of safetytoday.org.
As a veterinarian as well as a dog foster parent, Janice knows all too well the common dangers our pets face in winter, from minor hindrances to life-threatening issues. As Janice states, "you've probably heard of winterizing your home, but what about winterizing your pup? Like our homes, our pets need a little extra care to get through the winter safely."
Janice has written this wonderful article especially for www.loyalpitbulllove.com so please enjoy it and be sure to follow these important tips for keeping your pets safe.
Four Winter Safety Tips Pet Parents Should Know
Winter poses a variety of hazards for people, but pet parents may not realize the dangers that lurk in and around their homes during the cold, winter months that pose risks to their dog’s health. If you’re the proud parent of a four-legged fur kid, you’ll want to be aware of these potential safety risks.
Crunchy Snow and Ice Can Damage Pads
As a veterinarian as well as a dog foster parent, Janice knows all too well the common dangers our pets face in winter, from minor hindrances to life-threatening issues. As Janice states, "you've probably heard of winterizing your home, but what about winterizing your pup? Like our homes, our pets need a little extra care to get through the winter safely."
Janice has written this wonderful article especially for www.loyalpitbulllove.com so please enjoy it and be sure to follow these important tips for keeping your pets safe.
Four Winter Safety Tips Pet Parents Should Know
Winter poses a variety of hazards for people, but pet parents may not realize the dangers that lurk in and around their homes during the cold, winter months that pose risks to their dog’s health. If you’re the proud parent of a four-legged fur kid, you’ll want to be aware of these potential safety risks.
Crunchy Snow and Ice Can Damage Pads
If you live in an area where it snows frequently in the winter, there’s not much you can do about the fact that your dog will likely have to navigate through the snow to relieve himself at some point. Some dogs love to frolic in the snow, while others will lift their feet as their pads become cold.
Whether your dog is a snow-lover or not, you’ll want to keep an eye on their paw pads to watch for cuts, cracks, and chapping that, if left untreated, can lead to infection.
De-Icing Products Can be Dangerous
Freezing temperatures mixed with precipitation can lead to dangerous sheets of ice on patios and in other outdoor areas where your dog may spend time. You don’t want your dog to slip and injure herself, so the natural thing to do is use a de-icing product to melt the ice.
However, de-icing products are actually dangerous for dogs. Not only can these products damage your dog’s paws, but your dog may lick her paws and end up consuming a dangerous amount of sodium chloride or other potentially toxic substances.
Keep Your Dog Warm and Cozy
If you’re the parent of an Alaskan Malamute, cold weather is probably not a huge concern for your pet’s comfort. However, many other breeds have thin coats of fur that do little to protect them from the harsh winter elements. That’s why some pet parents opt for sweaters and coats to help their dogs stay warm, particularly for elderly dogs, very young dogs, or dogs who are extremely thin or ill.
While few things are more adorable than a dog in a sweater, avoid leaving your pet unattended when he’s sporting clothes. If your dog attempts to get a sweater or coat off, she could get stuck and potentially suffocate.
Provide Adequate Shelter
When the temperatures drop, your dog should be inside whenever possible. Still, some pet parents have dogs that simply love to be outdoors. If your dog prefers to spend much of his time outside, be sure that adequate shelter is available. That means a windproof shelter, plenty of fresh straw for bedding, and access to fresh water.
To keep your dog’s water from freezing, you can use a heated bowl, but be careful to ensure that any electrical cords are out of reach for your dog. The best solution when the temperatures drop is to bring your dog indoors, such as a heated garage or, even better, inside your home.
Keeping your dog happy and healthy during the long winter months is a top priority for loving pet parents. Even dogs who spend most of their time outdoors will require some accommodations and precautions to ensure that they’re warm, cozy, and well-hydrated when the temperatures are frigid.
Image via Pixabay by antony4978
Whether your dog is a snow-lover or not, you’ll want to keep an eye on their paw pads to watch for cuts, cracks, and chapping that, if left untreated, can lead to infection.
De-Icing Products Can be Dangerous
Freezing temperatures mixed with precipitation can lead to dangerous sheets of ice on patios and in other outdoor areas where your dog may spend time. You don’t want your dog to slip and injure herself, so the natural thing to do is use a de-icing product to melt the ice.
However, de-icing products are actually dangerous for dogs. Not only can these products damage your dog’s paws, but your dog may lick her paws and end up consuming a dangerous amount of sodium chloride or other potentially toxic substances.
Keep Your Dog Warm and Cozy
If you’re the parent of an Alaskan Malamute, cold weather is probably not a huge concern for your pet’s comfort. However, many other breeds have thin coats of fur that do little to protect them from the harsh winter elements. That’s why some pet parents opt for sweaters and coats to help their dogs stay warm, particularly for elderly dogs, very young dogs, or dogs who are extremely thin or ill.
While few things are more adorable than a dog in a sweater, avoid leaving your pet unattended when he’s sporting clothes. If your dog attempts to get a sweater or coat off, she could get stuck and potentially suffocate.
Provide Adequate Shelter
When the temperatures drop, your dog should be inside whenever possible. Still, some pet parents have dogs that simply love to be outdoors. If your dog prefers to spend much of his time outside, be sure that adequate shelter is available. That means a windproof shelter, plenty of fresh straw for bedding, and access to fresh water.
To keep your dog’s water from freezing, you can use a heated bowl, but be careful to ensure that any electrical cords are out of reach for your dog. The best solution when the temperatures drop is to bring your dog indoors, such as a heated garage or, even better, inside your home.
Keeping your dog happy and healthy during the long winter months is a top priority for loving pet parents. Even dogs who spend most of their time outdoors will require some accommodations and precautions to ensure that they’re warm, cozy, and well-hydrated when the temperatures are frigid.
Image via Pixabay by antony4978
We hope you have enjoyed this important and very informative article and please visit safetytoday.org for lots more on how to keep your family and pets safe.
Thank you so much Janice for taking the time to share this information with our readers.
Thank you so much Janice for taking the time to share this information with our readers.
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