I have to admit, I am not Michigan’s biggest fan. Mind you, I enjoy plenty of what our mitt-shaped-state has to offer, such as metro-Detroit dining, funky retailers and that fact a good chunk of my family and close friends live here, but Michigan weather gets me cranky.
However, this past week has proved to be an anomaly of decent dog walking weather which reminds me of how much I love my job. There have been just a hand-full of weeks that the weather was at/around 70 degree’s – in my mind perfect. I perk up, the dogs perk up, my team perks up…we all love this weather.
But alas, we all know what is coming in near weeks: cold, snow, ice, yuk.
Dogs are sensitive to weather just like humans but don’t seem to complain as much as we do, ahem, I do. Thus, a few things to remember about the upcoming winter season and how we can protect our four-legged friends from the extreme elements.
1) don’t leave your pups outside in temps below 40 degree’s unless they have thick coats and are cold-weather breeds
2) don’t leave out toxins like anti-freeze – store properly (dogs just love the taste but the chemicals are deadly)
3) buy animal safe driveway/sidewalk salt for snow/icy conditions
4) if giving your pet on a cold winter day, do not let them go outside for an extended amount of time
5) if buying clothing for your pet, ensure the materials are natural like cotton as synthetic materials can actually decrease their body temp
For our cat clients…make sure you check your dryers before turning them on as cats love warm towels and might climb into the dryer bin. Cats also love the taste of anti-freeze so make sure if you have an indoor/outdoor kitty, they can’t get into anything toxic.
Lastly, I know first hand what a pain it is to clean up dog poop in the winter months, but keeping a clean yard will protect your pooch from parasites and other nasty issues that stem from either the eating of poopcicles or tracking in #2 to your home.
