| Keeping dogs warm this winter | |||||||
| by BUDDY AMATO | |||||||
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As we move deeper into January and will soon be entering February, we need to take our pets into consideration and ensure they are protected from the weather. Dogs love to be walked, but as the temperature drops, you should make sure your pet is adequately protected from the cold. Coats and booties, now a fixture on animals, are actually beneficial to keeping your dog warm, especially short-haired and elderly dogs. When shopping for these particular items, make sure that you are choosing ones that provide high collars that cover the dog's neck to the base of the tail as well as the belly underneath. If you have an older or sickly dog, make certain that you are only taking the dog outside only to relieve themselves, as they are particularly sensitive to the cold. Puppies are more sensitive to the cold than adult dogs, which could be difficult if you are trying to housebreak the dog. If you find this a difficult task, the best solution would be to paper train your puppy indoors until the temperature gets warmer. A sensitive spot on all dogs is their paws. To keep your pet warm, make sure that you clip the fur between their toe pads to lessen the amount of snow that will collect between the toes. A tip to keep your pet's paws warm during walks is a touch of cooking spray; lightly coat your dog's paws with it before a walk in the cold. This will serve to protect your dogs paws if they are already dry and sensitive. If your dog has been prancing in the snow after a walk, make sure to towel your pet off and remove snow or ice off the feet, legs and belly. Small ice cubes that can go undetected by pet owners can form between the toes and toe pads and make your pet uncomfortable. Wiping your dog off will help get rid of salt, antifreeze or other products that may harm your pets when they lick their fur. Additionally, you will also want to wash your dog's paws off with water so that you remove salt that may irritate their paws; his lessens the risk that your pet will become ill if they lick their paws with those chemicals on them. May de-icing chemicals are toxic, so you will want to make sure they are kept away from your pet so that they do not ingest them. A very important tip that dog owners will want to remember is not to let their dogs off their leash in the snow or ice. Dogs often lose their scenting ability in the cold weather and will become lost. To avoid this from happening, make sure your dog is leashed at all times. Dogs love to play in the snow.just make sure they are playing in a fenced-in area and have the proper identification on them. More dogs are lost in the winter than any other time of the year. There are plenty of precautions pet owners can take to keep their pet safe. If you are traveling in the cold weather, always remember to have a winter survival kit ready in case of an emergency. If you are traveling with your pet, make sure this kit also has your pet's needs in mind as well. Include blankets, towels, bowls, water, food and of course a first aid kit. If you become stranded, make sure that you do not leave your pet in the car alone in the cold. Just as a car becomes very warm in the summer, it also acts like a freezer in the winter and your pet can freeze to death. Following the above steps and keeping your pet safe will make this winter a stress-free time for you and your dog to enjoy the cold and the snow. Did you know....
Grandmaster Buddy Amato operates Amato's Karate and Weapons Academy, 589 Palmer Avenue, West Keansburg and is the author of Buddys Animal Kingdom. For more information, call (732) 671-9555.
Copyright Buddy Amato Amato's Goju-ryu Karate, Nunchaku, Bo-staff, Aikido, Sword, Kendo, Sais, Kick-boxing, Tai-Chi and more 589 Palmer Ave, Keansburg and is the author of Buddys Animal Kingdom, NJ 07734 (732) 671-9555 |
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