Winter Wonderland

I am sooooo excited!  The weather person says we are going to get a big snow tonight.  I hope this time he is right.  DixieLee and I love to run and play in the snow.  I have a nice thick coat to keep me warm and DixieLee runs so fast, the cold can’t catch her.

Even with thick coats we still need to be careful that we don’t stay out too long because if we get too cold we could get frostbite or even hypothermia.  Frostbite and hypothermia are bad, bad, bad for all animals and people too.  Puppies, older dogs or dogs who are not so well have to be extra careful not to be outside too long.

Dogs with short coats or who get cold easily can wear sweaters or coats when they go out.  Boots are also a good idea.  Boots not only keep feet warm and dry, they keep them safe from salts and chemicals.  The photo you see is of our friend Beauregard.  He lives in Canada where it is cold and snows a lot like it does in New England where we live.  He doesn’t like to wear his boots but his Mom knows keeping warm and dry is very important.  We think he looks very handsome in his boots and coat.

We have a nice pen to play in and our Dad uses pet safe salt to keep it not slippery but roads and city streets are treated with salts and chemicals that can be bad for dogs.

Dogs who walk on roads and streets should have their humans wash their paws, legs and bellies when they get back inside.  Licking the salt and chemicals can make you sick and if you don’t clean the salt and chemicals off they can get into your pad and make them hurt.

Chunks of snow can also get caught between your toes causing them to hurt which is one more reason to checked and cleaned when you get back inside.

Another chemical to be careful around is antifreeze.  Antifreeze is something that helps cars run better in the cold.  Antifreeze is sweet but is very poisonous so if you see any near your car, have your humans clean it up and DON’T drink any.

We need to be careful around ice in winter too.  It is best to not go near frozen lakes, ponds and rivers because the ice may look strong but it may not be.  If you fall through the ice you won’t be able to swim out like you can in the summer.

I know after a big day of playing in the snow I get hungry.  Some people think that extra weight helps keep a pet warm but my Mom says that extra weight brings more serious health problems so she makes sure our weight stays at the good level.

Animals that live outside do need more food during the cold weather but not those of us who live in nice warm houses.

Enjoy Winter but be safe.

Love,

Zeva

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