As fall winds down and winter approaches, it is important to do what you can to keep your pets safe. The cold months pose many risks and challenges, but we’ve rounded up everything you need to know for keeping your furry and feathered loved ones safe this winter!

Check Wheel Wells & Engine Compartments

In the winter, cats and small animals may sleep in wheel wells and automobile engines to keep warm. If you start your car and an animal is resting on your tire or under the hood, it could be badly injured or even killed by the moving components. Before you start your automobile, you can pound loudly on the hood or honk the horn to alert the sleeping animal. This will rouse the animal and give it a chance to flee before you begin driving.

Bump Up Calories

Dogs, in particular, will use more energy than humans when they are out exercising in the cold. You can assist them by feeding them a little more food so they can make up for the energy and calories they expended playing.

Double check your feeding locations as well. If you keep your pet’s bowls outside, consider moving them indoors to avoid frozen food and water. If the food and water must remain outside, make sure the material of the bowl can withstand harsh weather.

Going Outside? Clean Up Afterward

Your animal’s paws might pick up hazardous substances such as salt, antifreeze, or deicers while on winter strolls. To keep your pets from licking it off and getting sick when you return home from walks, clean off their paws.  The Humane Society cites this as to protect your pet in winter.

Pets can become chilly and drenched after a snow play session, which can lead to a cold or hypothermia if they are chilled for an extended period. To prevent this, make sure to dry your pets as soon as they come indoors. We recommend that you keep a designated pet towel on hand so you never forget this critical step.

Be Mindful of Rock Salt Danger

Rock salt poisoning is a real risk for pets. In addition to wiping off their feet after visits outdoors, monitor to make sure your pet is not eating the salt while they are outdoors. Pets are susceptible to salt poisoning throughout the winter when rock salt is frequently used to clear roads and pathways. If they ingest it while on a walk or by licking it off their paws, it might be fatal.

The greatest way to avoid salt poisoning is to keep a close eye on your pet and if you detect that they’ve eaten salt, clean their mouth out with water and contact a local veterinarian immediately. If you’re not sure whether your pet has ingested salt, watch for signs like vomiting, diarrhea, tiredness, lack of appetite, increased thirst and/or urination, lack of coordination, tremors, and seizures.

If you live in an area that uses salt for road maintenance, try massaging petroleum jelly or other paw protectants into paws before going outside. Paw balms make this easy! If your pet will tolerate it, booties further increase protection by preventing sand, gravel, and salt from gathering between toes and causing discomfort.

Keep Furry Friends Close

Pets are more likely to go missing in the winter than any other season, owing to falling snow that may hide recognizable odors that would normally assist them to find their way back home. Pets can also get spooked during winter storms and thus, t 

Keep your pets on leashes when walking so they don’t get lost, and, just in case you become separated, double-check that their tags include up-to-date contact information. Keep collars on- microchipping should only be used as a backup.

Keep Them Out of the Cold

When it gets chilly, you should never leave a pet outside for lengthy periods of time, according to the Humane Society. You cannot leave your pet outside in below-freezing temps for longer than thirty minutes without seriously risking their safety, or risk of neglect charges.

If you have outdoor pets, they should be able to get into a warm place whenever they need it. Make sure they have access to a dry, insulated shelter that they can move about in and maintain their body heat.

Dress Your Pets

Dressing your pets is not just for fun, it serves a functional purpose – keeping them warm and safe. Pets’ extremities, like our own, are highly susceptible to wind chill- even if the temperature is above freezing. They can get hypothermia and frostbite on their exposed paws, noses, and ears.

Putting them in fleece vests and jackets, waterproof paw booties, and hats can help. Like we previously mentioned, their paw pads will be protected from the de-icing salt on roads and walkways.

Adjust Walk & Play Time

It may be tempting to allow your pet to play in the snow and cold weather for hours on end but, like us, they have cold weather restrictions. If it is below freezing, you should keep play time to less than 30 minutes, especially if you have an older pet or one with any sort of disability.

“Baby” Proof Your Home

Just like babies, pets need a little guidance for home safety. Because your pets should spend more time inside during the winter, it’s essential to protect all the heating equipment that they might come across.

If you have installed a portable heater in your living room, make sure there’s a barrier around it to keep your pet from knocking into it or causing a fire. You may also want to surround radiators with a barrier if they can get extremely hot.

Go For a Checkup

As a precaution, seek veterinary attention before the winter season begins.  This gives your vet a chance to assess whether your pets have any new problems that will make the winter months more difficult.

Chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease can all reduce a pet’s cold-temperature tolerance. Furthermore, as with any other condition, new or worsening arthritis might cause stiffer joints during the winter.

Do Not Leave Pets in Cars, Even in Winter

Much like how a car parked in the hot sun may heat up quickly and become an oven for anything inside it, a cold car transitions into a refrigerator or freezer in little time. In general, it is recommended that you do not take your pets on errands if you know you will be leaving them in a car for more than five minutes, especially if it is chilly outside.

Simplify Grooming

In the winter, remember that a longer coat will trap more heat. If your pet has long hair, simply trim it to prevent the sticking ice balls, salt crystals, and de-icing chemicals from drying out the skin. Do not forget about the hair between the toes! If you have a short-haired pet, consider investing in a coat or sweater with a high collar or turtleneck to keep the base of the tail and belly protected. For many pets, this is standard winter attire and the opportunity to make a fashion statement.

How to Help

Last but not least, if you notice a pet in need of assistance, contact your local animal welfare system. and many Canadian provinces, either as a misdemeanor or felony. The best thing you can do for those that cannot speak up for themselves is to advocate for them!

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Want a dog but worried they might not be happy in an apartment setting? No worries, there are plenty of dog breeds that thrive, living in close proximity to their human. When you look for the best breed to live with you in an apartment, there are a few things to consider. Not all small dogs make great apartment dogs, and not all large dogs are terrible apartment dogs!

You need to consider their energy levels, how much they bark (your neighbors won’t thank you for getting a loud dog in a smaller complex) and how much exercise they need. 

Here are ten of the best suited apartment dogs to keep you company in your small space. 

Dachshund

Also known as sausage dogs, Dachshunds make perfect apartment dogs. As the smallest of the hound dogs, these very lively and cute dogs don’t need much space to feel comfortable as they will spend most of their time on your lap! They only have short legs which means they don’t need much exercise and will be happy spending most of their time in the comfort of the indoors. 

Bichon Frise

This extremely cute looking teddy bear dog only grows up to a maximum of one foot tall! They’re not known for barking, which is another great trait for a dog that will grow up in an apartment or condo. They’re easy to train and love to play, making them a fantastic companion in any small living space. 

French Bulldog

French Bulldogs love to be around their owners constantly, so living in an apartment is the perfect choice for them. They don’t need a lot of space and are quite low maintenance dogs. They don’t require a huge amount of exercise and they are one of the most loyal and loving breeds in the dog world. 

Pomeranian

Pomeranians aren’t overly dependent breeds which make them a great choice for older people who live in apartments. They are happy to be active indoors, and don’t need a back garden, although they will need walking outdoors a couple of times a day. They are sometimes known for their barking, if this isn’t stopped at a young age.

Basenji 

The Basenji is a very sweet African dog who is well suited to apartment living because they aren’t big barkers, they don’t shed much and are quite small. They do however, need quite a lot of exercise, so they are only suited to people who have access to parks or walks nearby.

Pug

Pugs have relatively low exercise requirements and have a very easy going nature which means they’re perfect for living in a small space. They will be content spending the majority of their time napping and snuggling with their owner. 

Maltese

This silky white dog breed is quite a low energy breed and only needs a twenty to thirty minute walk each day. He is a little bit of a barker, so you’ll need to be prepared to train them or put up with a little bit of noise!

Yorkshire Terrier 

Yorkies make excellent apartment dogs. They are small, standing at only six or seven inches, and they need lots of attention and someone who will dote on them. Bear in mind that they can be stubborn with house training though, so it can take a while to get them to pee in the right place! On the plus side, they can be paper trained, making toileting easier if you are unable to take them out often.

Toy Poodle

Poodles come in three different size, the toy being the smallest, and most suited to apartment living. It will make a great apartment dog due to its size, but will still need plenty of stimulation and exercise. Another benefit of these dogs is that they are hypoallergenic, so perfect for those people who have allergies. 

Chihuahua

Chihuahuas are featuring last on this list, because although they are small and perfectly sized for apartment life, they are quite yappy which can be very tough for the neighbors. If you are going to choose a Chihuahua to live with you in an apartment building, you will need to train them early on to keep their barking to a minimum. This can be quite tricky so  you might consider the help of a dog trainer. 

Are Large Dogs Suited to Apartment Living?

Most of the dogs which have been featured on this list are small to medium sized dogs, but some people prefer larger dog breeds. 

Any breed which is large and very active won’t be suitable for apartment living, especially if you don’t have easy access to plenty of walking areas nearby. 

are an example of a breed which wouldn’t cope well living in an apartment, they are quite big and require a lot of exercise. If you do want to keep a large dog in your apartment, they should be quite mellow such as Bull Mastiffs. 

Author Bio: Thomas Woods is the creator of Perfect Dog Breeds, a website which teaches people worldwide about the hundreds of different dog breeds available, and how to care for and train each of them.

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We all love our four-legged family members, but sometimes your home isn’t set up for the hustle and bustle of pets. Whether its cats, dogs, birds or hamsters your family has taken in, all pets have different needs around the house.

Home builders are adapting by creating ways your home can be more pet-friendly and unique to each pet need. Below are a few amenities that families are opting for just to keep their furry friends happy.

Pet Nook

Many pets like to sleep with their owner or have their favorite seat in the house, but what if you could create a space just for them that they could feel comfortable and still see what’s going on around the house.

A pet nook is a great way to have a built in bed in your home and to keep the dog or cats blankets in one spot so pet hair isn’t dragged around. They also can be hidden away like under a staircase or beneath the cabinets in the laundry room.

Pet shower

It’s never easy getting a pet to take a bath, especially if your shower or bath isn’t the right size for your pet. A way to avoid this problem is having a built in pet wash station.

Consider the mudroom or laundry room for a  washingÌý²õ³Ù²¹³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô. These rooms already are meant for cleaning and that way the animal doesn’t need to track any dirt throughout the house or on furniture. For those large pets, make the bath or shower a walk-in, to avoid having to lift your pet and make them more comfortable getting in.

Built-in play space

Cat runs or a fenced in area in the backyard is a way for your pets to play even while the owners are away. If a dog has access to go outside where they can keep their toys and have some room to run around, they won’t feel cooped up all day while you’re at work. For cats, a cat run is a great way for them to use their claws and feel free throughout the house without having to scratch at your belongings.

No matter what you choose to do, they are all ways to make your pet feel at home just as much as you do.

Feeding Station

We’ve all had a pet dish tipped over, stepped on or spilled.  Save some clean-up time with a built in feeding station!

This amenity is one of the easiest ones to fit into an already designed home. It’s small and can be easily put into a kitchen island or cabinet. The feeding station could help you avoid messes and makes it easier on the owner during dinner time. Bonus tip: if you want to go all out… put a mini water faucet in to avoid having to remove the bowls from the station at all!

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