Daily Obs

Winter-proofing Your Dog

// January 31st, 2008 // 1 Comment » // Pets

There’s much talk during the summer months about the importance of protecting your dog from the blazing sun and how to keep it from suffering the ill effects of heat stroke, dehydration or worse. However, it is equally important to keep your dog warm during the freezing winter months. Frostbite, hypothermia and even death are real dangers to your dog as the snow piles up and the mercury drops.

It is generally assumed by many that, because of their furry coats, dogs are impervious to the cold and can take whatever winter dishes out. But not all dogs are tolerant to the cold. Puppies, smaller dogs and older dogs should not be left outdoors when the temperature falls below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. With proper shelter, all other dogs should be safe down to 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

When your dog is exposed to the cold for too long, frostbite can set in. Frostbite occurs when the dog’s ears, paws or tail get cold enough that ice crystals form in the tissue and causes damage. If you think your dog has frostbite, bring it into a warm area and soak the affected areas with warm water for about 20 minutes. In the meantime, contact your local veterinarian immediately.

Hypothermia, which occurs when the dog’s body temperature goes below normal as a result of prolonged exposure to cold temperatures, is another very real danger during the cold winter months. Symptoms of hypothermia typically include shivering, lethargy, a low heart rate, slow breathing and unresponsiveness. If you notice any of these symptoms, warm the dog immediately and contact your veterinarian.

If your dog needs to stay outside for long periods of time, make sure he has a dry, warm and draft-free doghouse. And just like Goldilocks looking for a bed, the doghouse should be just the right size in order to provide warmth and comfort.

“If the doghouse is too large, it will not maintain the appropriate temperatures,” stated Liam Crowe, Bark Busters’ president, COO and master trainer. “If it is too small, your dog will be unable to move around, thus limiting the dog’s circulation and reducing its ability to keep itself warm.”

If you don’t have a doghouse and have to use your garage for shelter, check for antifreeze spills and other dangerous elements within the dog’s reach. Antifreeze tastes sweet, and some forms of it are toxic to animals.

A dog’s internal system works extra hard in the cold to maintain appropriate body temperatures. As such, it needs extra fuel to burn and generate heat. Also, remember to provide plenty of fresh drinking water and keep it from freezing. It is just as easy to get dehydrated in the winter as it is in the summer if proper amounts of water are not consumed.

Try to keep snow from building up along fences so it does not provide artificial steps that will allow your dog to get out of the safety of your yard. If it does get out, remember that ice-melting chemicals commonly used on public streets can irritate and burn your dog’s paws. Be sure to rinse off his feet after being exposed to such chemicals.

Winter months can be just as hazardous to your dog’s health as the summer months. But by taking the right precautions and using good old common sense, you can help protect your dog from the dangers that can accompany the harsh winter climate.

- Thanks to Kelley Renshaw at Bark Busters for contributing this great article!

To Board or Not to Board – That is the Question

// January 24th, 2008 // 1 Comment » // Pets

Your bags are packed and you’re ready to go. The airline tickets are in your dresser and the hotel is booked. You even bought a slinky bikini for lounging near the pool, and a smokin’ hot evening dress for going out at night. There’s nothing standing in the way between you and the vacation you’ve been planning for months.

Except Fido.

What to do with your pet when you’re going away? The options are endless, but with a little research and some helpful hints, we’ll have you (and Fido) squared away long before you have to get to the airport.

Pet boarding can be a daunting experience for both you and your dog. And the stress level only increases if this is the first time you’ve been separated from each other. Fortunately, in a country where dogs are considered members of the family, boarding facilities abound and can range from simple doggy day care places to full on deluxe pet hotels. And prices are as varied as the stablishments themselves. A good rule of thumb when looking for boarding is to ask your veterinarian, friends and other family members where they recommend you take your pet.

It’s hard to judge a place based only on what you read in the phone book or by taking a tour. However, when asking around, people are generally more than happy to recommend good boarding facilities and they’ll likely steer you away from ones with which they’ve had bad experiences.

Regardless of who suggests what place, a tour is always a good idea. Once you’ve narrowed your choices down over the phone, request a tour from each of your final selections. Make sure that the facility is organized and clean, ask how often the kennels are scrubbed out and how many times a day the dogs are taken for a walk. Feel free to ask if you can observe staff interacting with some of the animals on site. Anything that makes you feel uncomfortable should be considered a red flag. Only board your pet in a facility in which you have absolute confidence. Keep in mind that if you’re worried about your pet the whole time, your well-planned vacation will probably not be what you’d hoped.

When boarding your dog at an away-from-home facility, make sure to ask what you should bring with you when you check your pet in. Most places suggest bringing along toys from home, blankets or pillows that your pet is used to sleeping on, and any food or treats that you want your pet to have. But just as you would with human children, you should also make sure the facility has emergency phone numbers for you, as well as alternate caregivers, your pet’s vaccination records and any other hints or tips for helping your pet have a positive experience. If your dog is afraid of bigger dogs for example, make sure to tell the boarding facility that so they’ll keep it with the smaller dogs in play groups (if that sort of thing is offered at the facility).

If you decide that Fido (or yourself) would be more comfortable at home, other options are available. You can have friends/family members come in a couple times a day to let Fido out, to feed/water him and to spend a little time playing. However, a word of warning…a practice run with the caregiver and your pet before you actually leave is a really good idea. Sometimes even the most social, friendly and marshmallowy of dogs can become aggressive and protective when it’s in the house alone. I personally know of at least a dozen people who went to care for the pets of family members, only to be bitten upon arrival. A trial run before hand will save any nasty surprises for your pet sitter once you’re on vacation.

If you can’t find someone you know to watch your pets, there are also commercial pet sitting businesses available. However, these can be a bit concerning to the pet owner who isn’t comfortable with the idea of having a complete stranger caring for home and pets while the house is otherwise empty.

Of course, these are just a few of the care options available for your vacation time, and not every solution will work for every pet owner. In order for you to have the best vacation possible, you need to find the solution that works for both you and your pet. That way, when you’re sipping mai-tais under a palm tree, you won’t have to worry for one second about Fido, and you’ll come home to a happy reunion with your pal. – Lisa Lepak