What extra care does my dog need in the Winter months?

• Remove ice, salt and caked mud and snow from your dog’s paws and coat as soon as they come in from outdoors. These substances can irritate and cause skin infections in sensitive areas.
  
  
• Contact your veterinarian at once if you suspect your dog may have frostbite. Frostbitten skin may look reddish, white or gray, and it may appear scaly.
  
  
• Keep holiday plants, decorations, tinsel, and ribbons up and out of dog’s reach. These things seem like fun new toys to dogs and puppies, and they love to chew on and play with them. However, they can cause serious health problems like intestinal blockages and poisoning.
  
  
• Be sure to keep all chocolate treats away from your dog. Chocolate contains a substance that can be toxic to your dog if consumed in sufficient quantities.
  
  
• Keep an eye out for toxic substances. Believe it or not, antifreeze smells and tastes good to dogs and even a small amount can kill them. Be careful that any spilled antifreeze is cleaned up immediately.
  
  
• As the weather turns colder, rodents may try to get into your home. Be careful to put any traps or rodenticides out of your dog’s reach. Also rodents carry some parasites that your dog can pick up from eating them. If you suspect that your dog has eaten a mouse, contact your veterinarian to find out what to do.



• Dry air inside in the winter can mean increased water needs for your dog. Make sure your dog has plenty of water available and if you leave water outside for your dog, check it several times daily to make sure it hasn’t frozen.



• Dry air can also cause itchy, dry skin that can irritate your dog. Check with your veterinarian if your pet seems to be scratching more during the cold months. There are some specific dietary supplements that can help control dry skin.



• Colder temperatures increase the body's need for calories. Working dogs and/or dogs that spend substantial time outdoors may need to have their food volume increased to compensate. However, for many dogs, winter is a time of less activity, and they actually gain weight. When in doubt, monitor your dog's weight during the winter months to avoid putting the dog through a spring diet.