It's cold outside...

With today being the first day of winter, I thought that it would be appropriate to talk about basic cold weather tips.
When there are extremes in temperature, more attention is required for your outdoor pets.  The cold can be as damaging as heat for our furry friends.  With the temperatures dropping below freezing there are a few considerations that need to be taken into account:
1.  All outdoor animals need to have shelter from the weather.  Whether that is a dog house, a barn or a garage, animals need a place to escape the cold and wet.  Animals can get frostbite, especially on their ears and pads of their feet.
2.  Outdoor animals may require more food to maintain their body weight.  This is because food provides energy that is converted into heat.  So it is especially important to watch your animals body condition to make sure it isn't loosing weight during the winter months
3. Access to fresh water at all times is important.  When the weather is freezing, it is important to either break up the ice on the bowl or have a heater for the water.  There are many safe products on the market that can help you meet your specific needs.
4. When it's very cold for extended periods of time, a blanket or coat may be needed to help protect your pet. 
5. If you walk your dog on sidewalks that have been treated with de-icer, make sure to wash the dog’s paws when you get home; these chemicals can irritate the skin. Or if using de-icer at home, buy pet safe de-icer as it causes less problems.
If an animal appears to be having hypothermia or frostbite, it's important to warm them up slowly and to get them to the vet.
Hope everyone has a safe and happy holidays!