Winter Safety

By Gillian Ridgeway

Well, winter is defiantly here and it is time to look at safety for our pets during this time of year. With snow and ice comes salt. Many areas are still using salt for the safety of the public, making sure no one slips and falls. That is great for us, we have foot coverings but unfortunate the salt can become a real problem for our dogs. Lots of dogs are not affected by the salt getting into their paw pads, but for those who are, it can be painful. There are many dog boots available on the market today. They come in quite an array of styles and colors. Many years ago it was frowned upon to put dogs into boots, after all they are dogs, they are made for this type of weather! If you have ever seen a dog limping down the street because of the salt, you would thank the day that dog boots were made popular. The dog boots of today are convenient, stay on the foot and often even have a reflective strip for added safety. If you don’t like the idea of putting boots onto your dog, there are paw ointments available for the paw pads that form a protective layer against the salt. Keep in mind that this must still be wiped off as your dog enters your home.

Speaking of reflective strips, these are being added to pet collars and leads and are a great idea. Now that the time has changed, we are often walking our dogs after work in the dark. The reflective equipment will make it more visible for the oncoming traffic to detect your pet and slow down accordingly. Two other ideas to make your pet more visible are collars that have small lights that flash on and off or a flashing device that can be attached to your dogs existing collar. The added bonus of these lights is that it allows you to see your dog more clearly, even if they are in your back yard. No more hiding out and stalling to come in, those flashes will give them away every time.

We do not have much control over where salt is spread, but on our own property we can use kitty litter, dirt or a special compound as an alternative to salt. The compound looks and works like salt, but does not hurt the feet of your pets.

Extremes in any weather must be taken notice of. Just like all the warning during the summer about leaving your pets in the car, or out in the heat, it is equally important to be aware if the temperature drops. Dogs can suffer outside during the winter. Frostbite can be a common occurrence, especially on the ears of shorthaired dogs. Exersing your dog needs to go on, even in the winter. Wrap yourself and your dogs both up and get outside. During very bad weather, remember to create activities in the house that will tire your dog out, teach him some tricks.

Anti freeze can be a problem if your pet drinks it. It does have a sweet taste that attracts pets. Keep all your anti freeze locked up and wipe up spills immediately. If you suspect your pet got into antifreeze, contact your Veterinarian immediately. There is an antifreeze out that has a bitter taste added, for pet safety. Ask your mechanic. Winter can be lots of fun, be safe, be warm and enjoy yourselves.

Gillian Ridgeway, AHT, has worked with dogs for over 33 years. She is director of Who’s Walking Who in Toronto and Ajax. A consultant for TorontoBarks.com, Gillian also writes for Dogs, Dogs, Dogs!, Dogs in Canada. She has appeared on Dogs in Canada TV, Global television, Q107 radio and in Toronto Life, and is co-author of the book, “Citizen Canine.” She travels with the Iams SuperDogs Performance team and teaches learning theory at University of Toronto. Gillian can be contacted at 416-465-3626; www.whoswalkingwho.net

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