Tips

Weather and seasonal changes can affect your pets health and wellbeing. Not all animals deal well with heat or cold. Many breeds are not suited for long exposure to drastic changes in wealther. Here are some helpful tips to care for your pets in changing seasons. 

General Season Care

1.Remember to be very careful with sick or older dogs, since they are more sensitive to cold weather. For any dog sensitive to the cold due to age, illness or breed, take him outdoors only to relieve himself. 

2. To help protect dry, sensitive paws, try coating them with a bit of cooking spray before walks in very cold weather. 

3. Consider using products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol. Some companies offer non-toxic antifreeze products, such as Sierra. Be sure to have your radiator flushed before you fill it with Sierra and do not mix Sierra with traditional antifreeze. 

4. Never leave your animals in cars in the summer or winter as in the summer the temperature in your car can be 20 to 50 degrees hotter than our side temeratures and in the winter cars act like refrigerators and therefore can be dangerous in both hot but also in cold weather. 

5. 

Winter Care

1. Brush your dog vigorously and regularly. The air in most houses becomes dry during the colder months, which depletes moisture from dog skin and fur. Brushing improves skin, coat and circulation. 

2.  Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter. Leave the coat longer for more warmth. When you bathe your dog, completely dry him before taking him out for a walk.

3. Never leave your dog or cat alone in a car during cold weather. A car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold. The animal can freeze to death. 

4. If you live in an area that sees a considerable amount of snow, clip the fur between your dog’s toe pads to reduce the amount of snow that collects between toes.

Every dog should have; Annual heartworm testing, annual internal parasite testing, up to date vaccines (rabies, canine distemper virus, canine parvovirus, canine abenovirus-2) and proper dental care and proper diet. 

Every cat should have; Annual heartworm testing, annual retrovirus testing, annual internal parasite testing,  up to date vaccines (rabies, feline panleukopenia virus, Feline herpesvirus-1, Calicivirus, for kittens, feline leukemia virus) and proper dental care and proper diet. 

Feeding your pet a high-quality well balanced food is one of the best things to can do for your pet. Feeding your pet table scraps is not a good idea as the human diet is very different from a proper pet diet. Your pets have biology driven nutritional requirements that may or may not me satisfied by some pet foods. on the market. A high-quality well balanced food should look something like this: High in high-quality protein (muscle meat), moderate levels of animal fat, high levels of EPA/ DHA, no grains as carnivors don’t require grain and no need for starchy fillers. 

Remember that our pets can’t talk to us to tell us what might be wrong. It is important for us to be aware of our pets normal behavior because when that changes that can be and usually is the indicator that something is wrong. 

Dogs – Odd eating habits, excessive thirst, rough or dry coat, sluggish and tired, vomiting, unusual stools, known ingestion of toxins, sudden change in weight and cloudy or red eyes, scooting or dragging rear end. 

Cat – Difficulty breathing, abnormal urination in male cats, signs or severe pain or obvious distress, sudden paralysis of the hind end, stops eating and/ or drinking, protracted  vomiting / or diarrhea, known ingestion of toxins, profount lethargy or collapse and seizure 

If your pet is exhibiting any of the signs in the above section labled warning signs, you should consider setting up an appointment as soon as possible. as mentioned before, your pet is unable to communicate with you verbally so you must be aware of unusual changes in your pets habits.  

1. Prep your pet for a long trip

2. Keep your pets safe and secure in a well-ventilated crate or carrier

3. Prep a pet-friendly travel kit

4. Never leave your animal alone in a parked vehicle

5. When traveling by vehicle, remember to offer your animal an opportunity to stop, walk and drink