Winter Tips~~ Part IV

Welcome to our final installment of the winter tips!  This weeks tips deal with paws and skin health....

PAW CARE

*  Provide boots when playing/walking in cold weather.
    (frequently lifting of paws and whining= uncomfortably cold paws).

*  Monitor for formation of ice balls between he pads and toes-especially for dogs with long fur.  Ice ball   formation is painful, and dogs may whine, chew at paws, and stop walking.

*  The application of Vaseline (petroleum jelly) may be helpful in preventing ice ball formation.

*  WIPE PAWS after being outdoors to remove snow, ice, and salt from pads.

*  De-icing salt used on sidewalks and roads can be very irritating to paws.


Winter's Decrease in Humidity Brings Dry Skin.

*  Bathe only when needed, and thoroughly dry your pets before they go outside.

*  Add moisturizing oils to the bath water.

*  Provide Omega Fatty Acid supplementation.

We hope that you have found these tips helpful and wish you and your furry family members a safe winter season!

Colder Weather Is Coming....

I hope you've been enjoying the beautiful weather we have had this week!  Since I know it can't last forever, I thought now would be a good time to begin a five week Saturday morning series of winter weather tips to keep our furry family members safe. 

1.  PREVENT accidental antifreeze ingestion
     (antifreeze = ethylene glycol = lethal poison = rapid kidney failure = death)

     *AVOID pet's exposure
     *Store antifreeze out of reach
     *Clean up spills immediately
     *Repair any vehicle leaks immediately
     *Use new antifreeze products containing propylene glycol (relatively non-toxic)

2.   Puppies often cannot tolerate the cold as well as adult dogs and may be more difficult to potty-train during the winter.  If it's snowy make sure you have a shoveled potty area so it's more comfortable for shorter legs.  Remember, don't give up, consistency is key.

Look next Saturday for some more tips to help your keep your pets more comfortable this winter!