 
Winter Wear & Care
By Betsey Odell
As the local humane societies
warn: if it’s too cold outside for you, it’s too cold
for your dog. Pets need their owners to help prevent illness and
even death once the temperature drops. The following are timely
tips to protect your pet companions in cold weather:
Must Know Winter Pet Care:
If you have an active dog, give him fatty acid supplements and increase
his food supply to keep skin and hair healthy.
Groom more during
the cold months of the year. Brushing regularly improves circulation,
skin and coat.
Never shave your dog
to the skin in the winter.
After washing –
completely dry before taking him out for a walk.
Pet Safety Concerns:
Never let your dog off his leash in snow or ice, and particularly
during a snowstorm. Housedogs often times lose their scent in snow
and ice and can become lost easily. The ASPCA claims more dogs are
lost in the winter than any other season. Make sure that dog tag
ID’s are secured.
Anti-freeze, even
if very small quantities can prove lethal to pets. Anti-freeze unfortunately
has a sweet taste, so animals are attracted to it. Call your veterinarian
or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (1-888-4ANI-HELP) if your
pet drinks antifreeze (usually green and makes your pet appear ‘drunk’).
Don’t leave
your pets’ alone outdoors in the cold – ever.
People giving/receiving
a new puppy for the holidays need to be on the look out for holiday
decorations that may harm their dogs. Ornaments and streamers look
nice, but may cause serious (and expensive) problems for pets if
ingested.
Cold Weather Protection
for Dogs of all sizes:
Puppies do not tolerate the cold as well as adult dogs. Provide
them with protective clothing and consider paper-training puppies
indoors. It is difficult to housebreak during the winter.
Older dogs or dogs
that are ill should spend very little time outdoors, except to use
the bathroom. Protect their feet as much as possible. When they
come back from walks, wash their paws with warm water. Paws are
very sensitive to cold weather.
Large, small, young
and old dogs - consider getting a warm sweater with a high collar
or turtleneck for your dog. Look for one that covers the dog’s
entire back and chest; it’s a necessity for many. www.Woofwearz.com
contains information on custom-made dog sweaters for your pet. (Woofwearz.com
donates 10% of all proceeds to Bide-A-Wee; an animal
welfare society that has provided adoption services for dogs in
New York since 1903).
Emergencies
Sub-zero wind chills expose your pet to frost bite. Frostbitten
skin is red, gray or whitish and can peel. Prevent frostbite from
removing any amount of snow from your dog immediately.
If you see or hear
of an animal in distress, please contact your local humane society
right away.
New York City: 212.752.4842
or www.humanesocietyny.org
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 This
article is reprinted through the courtesy of Woofwearz.com by Nikki
Borodi, custom made dog sweaters, and Betsey
Odell, writer and pet care provider.
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