[CorkyMax]

. Short-hair dogs may benefit from a coat or sweater when it's really cold.
. Be careful if it is icy. Dogs, just like people, can slip and hurt themselves. Postop patients are especially at risk, so it would be safer to walk your pet with a sling or a towel under the belly.
. Rock salt and chemicals such as de-icing products can end up on pet's foot pads. It is important to rinse off their feet to prevent them from licking the crystals on their paws. Another option is booties. Some pets tolerate them, some pets hate them...
. Anti-freeze is one of the most common yet deadliest intoxications in pets. It contains ethylene glycol, which causes kidney failure. Store containers away and quickly clean up any spills. Better yet, use a safer (but not harmless) anti-freeze product called propylene glycol.
. Frostbites do occur, mostly at the "extremities" of pets left outdoors: ears, nose and feet. An easy rule of thumb for most pets, is that if it is too cold for you outside, it is likely to be too cold for your pet as well.
. Beware of cats hiding under your hood to get away from inclement weather. They could end up with a "fan belt" injury (or dead--happened to my mother's cat), which is certainly not pretty...
. Keep candles and fireplaces out of reach.

And for the outside dog (and I hope there aren't that many outsiders) --Make sure they get plenty of fresh water and that their water bowl is not plain ice instead of water!! That they have a warm place to go with plenty of 'bedding'----How about encasing their doghouse in bales of straw for insulation and even put layers of straw under their bedding for extra warmth. Maybe some extra food too if your dog spends a lot of time outdoors engaging in physical activity, increase his daily food ration, especially protein. This will help keep his fur thick and healthy. --Don't think an extra layer of fat on their bodies right now would be a bad thing---Hey. they can work it off when spring time rolls around--Outside dogs prob. getting more exercise than house pets anyway! Maybe some kind of flap for the entrance of the doghouse to keep out the cold and wind---Could line bales up in an L-shape so that entrance is protected and have dog enter from the sde (Hard to explain-hope you know what I mean!) And, don't do what a stupid neighbor did---Please have the doghouse entrance not facing the north or west where most of the cold winds come from!!

[CorkyMax]

Winter Play Still Demands Water
Proper hydration is just as important for dogs in cooler temperatures.
Jean M. Fogle

Snow seems to bring the puppy out in most dogs. But while they romp, run, burrow, and gallop, you need to remember that snow play is hard, thirsty work. In the summer, we know our dogs need water when they pant and their tongues loll. Cooler temperatures in winter allow dogs to play longer, but drinking enough water is just as critical.

"Hydration is always important for a dog, and fresh water should be available at all times, even in the winter," says Andrea Straka, VMD, of Irondequoit Animal Hospital in Rochester, N.Y. "Playing inside games during the winter is also thirsty work as many heating systems keep houses very dry in the winter, increasing a dog's water requirement."

Inside or out, make sure your dog stays hydrated this winter by following these tips:

* Take frequent breaks during the activity to offer water.

* Encourage your dog to drink before the fun begins. Many dogs get caught up in the excitement of play and refuse to drink.

* Offer a sport replenishment drink for dogs that is likely to stop drinking when playing.

* Be sure the water bowl at home is always full. Remember dry heat makes water that sits out evaporate more quickly.

MORE ON THE OUTSIDE DOG!

Almost any dog will be fine, even in a very cold climate, as long as a protected environment is available and the dog is acclimated. A dog that is outside a lot as the weather gets colder will adapt."

As temperatures drop, dogs' coats adjust by filling out to better insulate the dog from cold, Dr. Pruyn said. However, a matted coat can't do its job. "Good grooming is perhaps the most critical factor in preparing your dog for the winter," he said. Outside dogs require a good shelter that stays dry and keeps out the wind. "I prefer a shelter large enough to get into easily but small enough to be warmed by the dog's body heat," Dr. Pruyn said. "The door should also be positioned away from blowing wind and covered. Ripped canvas strips over the door work well or, if you can train your dog to use it, an aluminum dog door." Also consider straw or hay rather than blankets. Fresh, clean straw or hay retains warmth and allows moisture to evaporate more effectively than blankets.

Keeping your shorthaired dog under wraps even in mild weather is important, said Rich Avanzino, president of the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. "Shorthaired dogs, very young dogs, elderly and sick dogs are particularly vulnerable even to mild fluctuations in temperature," he said. "Raincoats, sweaters and anything to keep the dog dry is important."

Winter rains are a concern in Florida. Prince said. "When it rains, my bigger dogs run around outside and play but not Ramirez," she said. "He'll run outside as fast as he can, do his business then dash back inside." His reward? "When it gets wet and chilly, I'll throw a blanket in the drier, then toss it in his crate. It's his 'treat.' He loves it!"

Glendora, California: Plan Ahead
Winter is the ideal time for dogs in this city near Los Angeles. Temperatures are cool; the plant life is green, lush and blooming; and owners enjoy being outside with their dogs more often. But California has its own wint er cautions. "One problem we have is with dogs going to winter resorts with their owners," said Rich Avanzino, president of the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. "When these dogs aren't kept on leash and don't have identification on them, they often get lost."

California dogs and their owners also may not be accustomed to snowy conditions. When Kim Martikan of Glendora first began hiking in the San Gabriel Mountains with her 4-year-old Golden Retriever, Roy, she was cautious. "I didn't know what to expect at first," she said. "One of the first things that happened was, after a really long hike, the snow actually wore Roy's toenails down and [his toes] started to bleed. After that I was careful to watch his feet and to carry along a styptic pencil to stop the bleeding."

Martikan also knows that taking a water bowl along for hikes is crucial.

"Dehydration is a serious problem in winter because dogs can't eat enough snow to keep hydrated," said Dr. Pruyn. "For those who live in colder climates, special water bowls or heating devices for water bowls will keep water from freezing. Make sure the devices are well made, safe and the cord is out of the way so your dog doesn't chew it."

Martikan also keeps a watchful eye on Roy on hikes. "I can't let him run the way I do in the summer," she said. "He could run off the side of a mountain and get stuck or stuck in a snowdrift or even cause an avalanche. Once he was running and he jumped onto a thin crust of snow and broke through into deep, soft snow beneath. He couldn't get out, and I had to rescue him."

n the Windy City, cold, wet weather dampens many dogs' enthusiasm for the outdoors. Vanya, a Bichon Frise owned by David and Sharon Turrentine, spends a lot of time in the yard despite being an inside dog. When it's really cold or wet, he is reluctant to go out by himself.

But with the Turrentines at his side and with the proper attire, Vanya happily ventures out for long walks. "My wife buys everything for him: jackets, raincoats, fleece jackets, boots, fleece boots with Velcro straps, waterproof boots," David Turrentine said. The boots are especially important because they protect Vanya's paws from the ice, salt and de-icing chemicals common on Chicago streets. "We read somewhere that salt can really burn a dog's paws, so he's got several pairs."

Another danger is antifreeze poisoning. "I'm very careful not to let him near any wet-looking spots on driveways or the street, especially those he looks interested in, since antifreeze is so sweet-smelling and attractive to dogs," Sharon Turrentine said.

Manhattan, New York: Protect Your Dog's Feet
In Manhattan, winter is frigid but few dogs live outside, and any respectable dog wouldn't be caught on the streets without the latest fashionable attire. Darkness is less a factor because the streets are well lighted. But, as in Chicago, ice, salt and commercial-de-icers are particularly hard on the paws of those well-dressed pooches.

Andrea Arden, a dog trainer, author and cable TV show host, takes special care of her dogs' paws in winter. Oliver and Maggie, her two 5-year-old Gordon Setters, and Lena, her 3-year-old Doberman Pinscher, were trained to wear boots outside.

"My first Gordon Setter once stopped in the middle of our walk and started yelping in pain [when salt burned its paws]," Arden said. Dogs can also be poisoned by licking salt and de-icers off their feet.

For owners whose dogs don't wear boots, Dr. Pruyn recommended keeping hair between the dogs' toes well groomed and putting petroleum jelly on their foot pads to keep ice crystals from bonding to the hair. Ice crystals can cause dogs' delicate feet to become red, swollen and irritated. Also, salt and commercial deicers cause stomach distress if dogs lick it off their paws.

But some dogs won' t immediately accept dog boots. "They'll do that 'prancing' thing, then try to bite the boots off," Arden said. She suggested preparing your dog by putting on one boot, giving a piece of food, taking the boot off, putting on another boot, giving another piece of food, and so forth until the dog is used to the boots. Arden also keeps a box of baby wipes by the door for "bootless" walks. "That way I can wipe their feet as soon as we get in the door."