Safety: Tis the season

The winter holidays offer chances for hot chocolate and dog events galore. It also means dog colds and visits to the vet. For safety from these threats , consider these small tips this holiday season.

To start, if your dog is solely outside consider their accommodations. The winter months can get cold. Unless your dog has a well insulated dog house, then think about upgrading them to inside. When should you begin letting your dog in? If it gets too cold for you, it’s too cold for your dog.

Grooming is also something to change-up for winter safety.

Your dog can be susceptible to head colds if left wet or too cold. So if your dog dons a dense coat, keep it long. It will mean more grooming for your dog, but at least they won’t get hesitant when stepping out on night walks. For short hair dogs, get a light jacket to keep them warm. Small short hair breeds like Chihuahuas are not made for colder climates. So take this as an opportunity to sport some doggie gear.

If your dog doesn’t deal with snow but rain, try a dog raincoat. This way your dog stays dry, and you won’t have to spend the time drying your dog off after every walk. Skin irritations can develop in moist environments. So ditch the wet dog smell by maintaining their coat.

You can pack on your dogs’ pounds in November and December. Like humans, dog burn more calories in lower temperatures. So to keep them warm during months of snow try another 1/4-1/2 more of kibble. Don’t worry, your dog can lose any extra weight on those summer runs in the park.

Besides more dog food, you can also stock up on emergency puppy pads. If your dog doesn’t want to go outside, or the weather outside is frightful, then you can use them for a backup bathroom. A doggie bed with a warmer can help colder apartments, but blankets work just as well.

Look out for salted sidewalks and paths, they can irritate your dogs’ paws. So clean any salt off your dog’s feet and fur. Your dog should always be on a leash in snow-covered areas. The snow can hide harmful chemicals, predators, and falls for your pooch.

Always attend to your dogs paws in snow.

Your dog can suffer from frost bite if left standing in snow for long periods of time. So try to do short walks without standing in the snow.

If you’re dog does suffer from a head cold or shows signs of hypothermia warm them up quickly. Put them next to a heat source in a blanket. Once their warm enough for travel, take them to the vet.

Puppies are also at risk during the holidays. Christmas decorations and electronics, such as lights, can pose a huge threat to puppies and dogs. So keep an eye on them, or put them away from the festivities. You don’t want your dogs choking on tinsel.

Again, spare yourself the vet bill this holiday. Take the time out for dog safety, tis’ the season.