Winterize Your Pets

Fall is here and we are slipping into cooler wether. Depending on what area of the country you are in, there may be some freezing nights and cold days. I live in Washington state where winters are milder than other northern United States areas. No matter where we are, we have to prepare our pets who go outside in the cold. This picture is of "Sally", who is a very special dog who lives with my friend Jodie. You can tell it is getting cooler by the picture. Fall leaves on the ground and Sally in her special coat. Not all dogs are equiped to handle the cold and need some help from their human companions.

There are a variety of coats online and in the pet stores. This is the time to look for your dogs winter coat now. If you live where it is not too cold you might start with an old sweatshirt. I go to Goodwill and buy sweatshirts for $3.00. I cut the arms off and leave just enough to cover their shoulders and upper arms. Then for the boys dogs, I cut out part of the bottom so they can go to the bathroom. By the way, sweatshirts fit dogs best if you put the front on their backs and the back on their tummies. That way, their neck area fits better. Then I either safety pin up the loose baggy areas or sew it to fit. As it gets colder, I put two shirts on them. And of course, the winter coat when necessary.

My dogs are outside most of the time during the days. Each dog has a dog house with lots of blankets and foam bedding to lay on. The bottom of dog houses are very cold to lay on without lots of padding. It is too cold and hard for arthritic dogs or dogs with joint problems. With their shirts, coats, and layers of cushy bedding, they can cuddle up and stay warm. For very cold areas you can buy dog houses that have heating units. Some people put light bulbs inside to raise the temperature. It is very important to keep out the cold winds which chill the dog and can make them sick. Igloo dog houses sell swinging doors and floor padding. You can assemple a wind block with strips of heavy carpet and nail them to the door top of wooden dog houses. That way the dog can go in and out but it keeps out the cold and wind. Face the dog house entrance away from the direction of the wind.

Water dishes need to have the ice removed daily and fresh water filled. Keep food and water dishes under a area where rain, wind, and snow cannot get into them.

Never leave a dog chained up outside in the dead cold of winter. That is cruel and you can go to jail for that. All dogs need proper shelter. If at all possible, in the coldest of winter, keep your dogs in the house. Prepare a place for them to keep warm. Remember to let them outside often to relieve themselves. If properly potty trained, they won't make mistakes in the house and you won't mind keeping them inside in the cold winter.

Don't forget your cats. They should not be outside in extreme weather either. Find a warm place inside during the winter where they can be warm. Keeping your pets healthy means winterizing their surroundings for the cold. By dong these simple things, you can save yourself lots of vet bills. Unless your dog is a sled dog from Alaska and is outside a lot, the chances are they are not used to the cold and can get sick or die if left unattended.

Make sure the nutrition is full of enough calories, vitamins and minerals to keep your pets healthy in winter. Feed them all natural, human grade, organic, and holistic pet food. You can find some of the best brands at http://www.everythingnaturalpetfood.com/NaturalDogFoods.html. Remember, our animal companions depend on us for proper care so "Feed Them Life!" Have a warm winter.