Keeping pets warm in winter.

Happy New Year!

 So far we've been pretty lucky. Even late into December, especially by the lake-shore, we have seen almost no snow, a fact for which the majority of us are happy. The temperature has also been very good to us, something that our dogs seem to take for granted. Little do they know the inevitable will happen soon enough--winter as we know it will arrive. You probably already prepared yourself for winter, getting out the coats, gloves, jackets, and hats that we Wisconsinites ALL need. But have you prepared your pet?

For indoor pets, it's pretty simple. Make sure they have extra bedding, a nice place to warm up, and a little extra food (they'll need more calories to stay warm). A really cool product I wrote about last month, was the Pet-ZZZ-pad, a warming pad for dog beds. What makes it special is that it automatically turns on when your pet gets on it or off when he leaves. It's reasonably priced and available online at www.petzzzpad.com If you have an active dog, winter apparel for canines is actually very useful, no matter how comical it may seem. Apparel keeps your dog warm, dry, and outside longer. Our little  Jack Russell Terrier ,"K9",would hardly go out when the snow hit. However, he now dons a little snow coat (See picture)by Casual Canine®. They make VERY quality apparel at outstanding prices. K9 stays outside much longer before he gets cold, and of course is happier on his walks. Think about getting your dog winter wear.

For outdoor dogs or cats, winter can be much harsher. Monitor your pet, if the temperatures are low and he looks uncomfortable, think about bringing him inside. If that's not an option, a sturdy structure  with protection from the wind, rain, and snow, will keep him comfortable on the cold days. Be sure to provide extra bedding and even think of insulating his "house" with a little hay or straw. Most  pet stores sell heaters for dog houses. Be sure to buy one specifically designed for that purpose, any others could pose risk of fire, or burn you pet. For a very safe way to keep him warm: K&H Microwaveable Pet Bed warmer. The 9x9 inch pad heats up in the microwave in just a few minutes, yet the warmth lasts up to 12 hours. Great for those chilly nights. Be sure to provide your pet with his extra calories and especially fresh water. Don't think that the snow or ice is enough. 1 cup of snow is less than 1/3 cup of water.  Not surprisingly, many dogs go dehydrated this time of year. If the water in his bowl tends to freeze,  an electric bowl heater will prevent that.

Mushers Secret®:  Correctly hailed as the "The Invisible Boot." Mushers Secret® is a non-toxic, non-staining, and non-allergenic wax based protectant. It not only protects and heals your pets paws from the cold, heat, or salty roads, but also provides soothing relief for cracked, itching, or sore paws. Mushers Secret® can also be used on your pet's dry elbows, or anywhere else that needs relief. Just apply a thin layer, which dries in seconds, and you're ready to go. $15.99 for a 60 gram container.

Safe Paw®: What happens when your dog walks on the salty pavement?  We learned the hard way last winter. Our dog  did just that, and his pads ended up red, raw, sore, and even bleeding. We now try to keep him off the salt as much as possible, but there's still the risk of him ingesting the salt, which of course is not good. Safe Paw® solves that -- it is a non salt based ice melting alternative which is non toxic, environmentally friendly and pet/kid safe. Safe Paw® melts the ice with 2-way time release pellets, melting faster, attracting sunlight, and keeping ice from forming for as long as 3 days. It won't harm any surfaces, plants, trees, or shrubs. Price wise you can't go wrong, it's cheaper than conventional salts. Widely available in pet, grocery, and hardware stores.
 When you take your dog for a walk this winter, be careful. There's plenty of ice this time of year, you wouldn't want to get hurt! Those ice treads you can put onto your shoes can be lifesavers, I would recommend wearing them every time you go for a walk. That's all for this month! Once again hope you had a Happy New Year, and I'll see you February.