Winter Reminder

With the onset of winter it's worth remembering that we need to provide extra care for our canine and feline companions.

Whether your dog or cat lives outdoors or goes out to exercise and toilet we must be aware that dropping temperatures pose a risk to our furry family members. Just because they wear fur coats doesn't mean they are immune to the effects of cold weather.

Dogs and cats can experience hypothermia and frost bite. The most susceptible parts of the body are the tips of the ears, the tail and the pads on their feet.

Small breeds and breeds with short hair can be quickly overcome, as can very young or aged dogs, by prolonged exposure to cold temperatures.

The best way to prevent injury or death as a result of cold weather is to keep your pets indoors whenever possible. If you're unable to have your pets indoors, providing a dog house or sheltered area with some sort of bedding where they are protected from the elements is necessary for the health and well-being of your pet.

Signs to look for include shivering, ice on body or limbs, stiffness, bright red color of effected tissues, followed by a pale color, and finally black discoloration and sloughing off of skin. Foot care is vital during the winter, as ice accumulated between the toes can cause irritation and various ice melt products can cause blisters on the pads of the feet.

Please remember that our furry companions depend on us to provide adequate care and a safe environment.

A good rule of thumb is, if it's too cold for us to be outside for a prolonged period of time then it's too cold for our pets to be outside. When we bring a pet into our home they become a part of the family and should be treated as such.

A "Girlfriend" and Concern

Kodiak has a new friend, a little girl doggy who lives next door. She's only about 14 weeks old and simply adorable. She thinks he's the greatest thing since "kibble".

She's an English Springer Spaniel/Giant Schnauzer named "Molly".

Little Molly came to live next door when she was 7 weeks old. Immediately, upon seeing her outside, Kodiak was attentive, watching and listening to her, unable to focus on much else while outside in the backyard.

I decided to let him meet her, so we went to the fence. There was a lot of sniffing, wiggling and tail wagging. They had a little 'talk' and I must say, a bit of daily interaction through the fence with Molly has certainly had a positive effect on Kodiak's disposition. He gets bored easily when we can't walk a couple times a day, so being able to reach the fence and play up and down its length with Molly has done wonders for him.

Kodiak and I have some serious concerns though. Molly is often left outside in temperatures below freezing for more than an hour at a time, without a house to seek shelter in, with no water dish, while her family is inside going about their business. Several days, when the wind chill was approximately 11 degrees, Molly and the older dog (Maggie - a Beagle) she lives with were left outside all day.

The family said they were having trouble housebreaking Molly because they are out of the house all or most of the day. This makes sense to me because even when they are home, they don't go out with Molly to encourage or praise her when she 'goes potty outside'. When she's outside, she's playing with Maggie, playing with Kodiak, raiding the garbage can where she brings tin cans and plastic milk jugs out into the yard to play with.

My husband brought Kodiak in from a potty trip to the yard and said "Kodiak thinks it's a shame Molly doesn't have any toys in her yard and feels bad playing with the 7 or 8 toys he has in his yard, while she's dragging milk jugs around her yard, he wants to get her a toy." So we went to the store and got her a tuggy tennis ball toy. Kodiak and my husband went to the fence and gave it to her.

Kodiak is very sensitive to her crying. He will sit in the yard and watch her, listening, especially when she's at her back door where he can't see her. Even in the house, he can hear her crying and will stand at the windows whimpering, wants to be taken outside so he can check on her.

As a responsible pet owner, I feel badly for little Molly. Her human family isn't making much of an effort to housebreak her or give her a little praise for going outside, they don't seem to care that she's chewing on metal cans and plastic from the garbage can, they don't seem concerned at all that she's outside, sometimes for many hours, with no shelter, nothing but snow or concrete to sit/lay on.

An adult dog, even Kodiak being a Husky, gets cold and can't tolerate prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures. An 8, 10 or 12 week old puppy certainly can't handle 11 degree windchill for an indefinite period of time.

I'm afraid we're going to have to keep an eye on Molly and perhaps call the local Dog Law Officer if the situation doesn't change.

It is incredibly cute, how Kodiak sits and watches her, how she comes to the fence and stands against it 'talking' to him. You can imagine the little pink and red hearts floating up into the air around their heads. :)