Winter Advice

ANTIFREEZE & SALTED ROADS: If it does happen to snow this year, please be aware of the road grit on your pet’s paws. Consuming rock salt can cause dehydration, liver failure and pancreatitis, while antifreeze contains the chemical ethylene glycol, which can be lethal when ingested, causing kidney failure and death.

Look out for Cats under your cars, as the temperatures plummet Cats can find cosy warm places outside which might not be a sensible place to sleep, such as under your warm car bonnet, or under your car, so please check above your tires and bang on the hood of your car before you set off!

BE SEEN: Be safe walking your dog in the dark, as nights draw in, we want our pets to be seen! Lumitube collars are currently hot in the ‘light up collar’ market, but have a browse and see what best suits you and you dog.

Winter Advice:

ANTIFREEZE & SALTED ROADS: If we get frost or snow, please be aware of the road grit on your pet’s paws. Consuming rock salt can cause dehydration, liver failure and pancreatitis, while antifreeze contains the chemical ethylene glycol, which can be lethal when ingested, causing kidney failure and death.

COSY CATS: Look out for Cats under your cars, as the temperatures plummet Cats can find cosy warm places outside which might not be a sensible place to sleep, such as under your warm car bonnet, or under your car, so please check above your tires and bang on the hood of your car before you set off!

BE SEEN: Be safe walking your dog in the dark, as nights draw in, we want our pets to be seen! Lumitube collars are currently hot in the ‘light up collar’ market, but have a browse and see what best suits you and you dog.

Christmas Survival Guide:

HOW ARE YOU FEELING?
Take a few minutes to think about how you are feeling around this time of year?
How ever you feel will affect your pets.
Think about things like your excitement, stress, frustration, lack of time to get everything done, too many things to have to think about... ALL of this will affect your pets.
Pets take a lot of our energy, they have a sixth sense and can tell how we are feeling, even if we usually hide it well.

WEATHER:
Think about weather also, dampness, coldness, dark mornings, darker earlier in the evenings.
Does your dog/pet suffer from join issues? Arthritis? the weather will be affecting them, maybe you will need to change the times of your walk or buy them a special dog coat/jumper. I LOVE Equafleece for Sookie, she won't leave the house if its too cold unless she has her jumper on. Also be aware that your dog might not like wearing anything like that. Puppies and older dogs will feel the cold a lot more, as will short haired breeds. Will their walks be shorter because of the early darkness at night time/ less light in the morning?

FOOD:
BE aware that not all humans foods are pet safe. PLEASE put away ANY food that might harm your pet.
PLEASE stay up to date on what foods are safe and what foods are dangerous.
ALSO PLEASE BE AWARE, that not ALL food/toys/chews that are sold for pets are pet friendly. you'll be shocked... so if you are buying treats for a friend or family pet or your own pets look at the ingredients, are they natural? How is the product made? HAs it been treated? is this something that should be in my pets diet? You can get really great 100% natural treats and chews now, so there really is no need for the cheep nasty stuff that looks pretty because its dyed red/to look like a candy cane ect...

FESTIVE PLANTS (XMAS TREE)/DECORATIONS:
poinsettias are poisonous but also common this time of year, please also think about your Christmas tree. Please be aware of what household plants are dangerous for your pets.
You can block off your Christmas tree if you have a puppy, or put them up high, I have a bunny 2 cats and a dog so I pop my tree up on a table. Also think about what you put in the tree, please do not hang chocolate or sweets on the tree, also think about Christmas crackers, also please think about any presents you will be putting under the tree or in accessible areas. either block them off or don't put them in reach.

FAIL TO PREPARE, PREPARE TO FAIL:
What does your Christmas look like?
Will your house be full of other people? people your dog knows? Doesn't know? will your house be louder? will your dog be able to deal with all these changes?
Think about where your dog can go that is safe and quiet, prepare stuffed Kongs/lickie matts/chews.
Is my dog used to being alone in another room?
Educate any visitors on how to be/greet your dog before they come over.

But most of all, Be Kind to them and to yourselves. x

Winter and Christmas Survival Guide