#dogs winter health

[puppyexpressions]

Dangers of Road Salts to Pets

In the winter, our dogs still need to get outside to use the bathroom and for occasional exercise. If you live in an area that gets a lot of snow, however, it’s important to understand the dangers of rock salt and de-icers.

Why Avoid De-icers?

Road salt and de-icers are known irritants for your pet’s feet. This is because most road salt is made from chlorine and sodium calcium, magnesium or potassium. Unlike regular table salt, road salt contains heavy metals and other contaminants that can be harmful to our pets. These chemicals can cause painful burning and cracked feet that dry out the pads and cause serious irritation.

Protecting Your Dogs’ Feet

Chances are if you have pets, you already use safe de-icers at home, but if you take your pet anywhere, you must be concerned about what he will encounter on someone else’s property. To protect your dog’s feet, avoid walking in places where salt is used. Instead of taking a stroll along the road, keep your pup on the grass. Also, be sure to wash your dog’s paws in warm water after a walk just in case they’ve encountered salt. Use a dry towel to pat dry.

Paw booties are also another alternative to keep your pet’s feet dry and comfortable. They come in a wide variety of sizes and styles to suit your pet. You can also apply a product like a paw salve or Musher’s Secret, which creates a barrier to prevent exposure to harmful chemicals.

#road salt and dogs #dogs health #dogs winter health #road salt #road salt dangers

[sammythesheltie]

On wednesday was vet visit day - for vaccinations.

Sammy is happy and fit as always.

Since his illness he lost so much weight (even he is healthy again).

And we sadly still do not know the reason for this weight loss.

He is from 12,80kg down to 8,35kg (his height is 42.5cm).

His lowest weight was exactly 7,95kg so I am happy he is starting to gain weight.

But it still scares me even the vet tells me he is fine and healthy and he is slowly gaining weight.

#dogblr #dogs #dog health #sheltie #shetland sheepdog #winter #spring #march #march 2024 #sammy

[tattooedbarbie69]

Took a beautiful hike in Boulder with the girls the other day 🏔️🌲🐾

#boulder colorado #mountains #nature hikes #hiking #nature photography #colorado #dog mom #dog lover #winter hike #my pics #working on my mental health #working on my physical health #trying to be happy #pic of the day #rescue dogs #adopt don’t shop #nature lovers

[oak23]

Honestly it did piss me off hearing from friends that my ex housemate implied I was going to hurt her dog just because I didn't want to take responsibility for looking after it on top of working a full time job that started at 6am in the morning while she would get to sleep in til the afternoon. Or that she begged to get it after screaming and sobbing, only to then spend the next few years never consistently walking it or feeding it on time, never training it, never washing it, never socialising it, and then wonder why it had so many behavioural issues.

All the while she would leave all the lights on in the house during the day and blast the aircon or heating in an otherwise empty house with the back door open all for the perceived comfort of her dog and treated any resistance to that as dog harm.

Or the fact I got ill multiple times because she would leave the back door open in the middle of winter because the dog would get stir crazy and she didn't want to get up to open the door each time and didn't want anyone else shutting the door because the dog's mental health came before anyone else's.

#like who the fuck leaves the backdoor in the middle of winter then gets upset when people close the fucking door #if you have a housemate with mental health issues and can't maintain a routine or consistency lmao DONT let them get a pet #literally watched her go from someone who could semi function to literally someone who could never leave the house due to her untrained dog

[meateater-lamb]

#vent #ahhh my best friend has once again told me to move out and look at shelters hahahahahahaha #like fuck man there ISNT A SHELTER HERE. #the only one we have is only open a couple months in winter #and also a shelter is THE WORST OPTION #esp in utah #like if i move out i need 2 have like help i cant just do it on my own yknow #he did have a good idea abt a mental health professional being able 2 help me tho.. #but then im 2 scared my mom will find out im going to therapy!!! #but i am going to look into it #bc like. i just cant do this anymore yknow #this place is killing me #like literally #both my mental and physical health are. very poor rn. #idk what 2 do idk. i am fuckin scared abt everything yknow #dissociation has gotten worse #i keep seeing things #heart is acting up #cant eat #keep having nightmares #mom wants me 2 give her $1.5k #my dog is super arthritic n im the only one who will do anything with her #which is making MY joints and body pain way worse #i am always sick n i always have the smell of mold stuck in my nose now #i cant even function man #i just lay on the couch all day sick and out of my mind n then i get screamed at for it #bc im the only one who cleans so if im not cleaning the house is fucked and so the house is fucked #i cant see a way out idk #nothing makes me happy and i feel like im dying again #my entire life is fucked

[isaksbestpillow]

Today's temperature was -31c so the warmest day in a while. I burned the new year's gods 🔥

#i hope i can burn next year's gods at the temple fire #i've been on the new hormones for a week now and only seeing side effects with no benefits so far :( #it really is such a long and winding road back to health #also winter is awful!! it hurts just opening the door to let the dogs out. i don't want to hear winter lovers' opinions

[sorchathered]

Think I might finally buckle down and finish this deployment homecoming Bob one shot that’s been sitting in my WIPS for a month 😂😂

Or I’ll continue to procrastinate bc my mental health is in the damn tubes this week and I’d rather lay in bed and rot.

Could be either, could be both. Who knows.

#shouting into the void #depressed af #can’t seem to crawl out of the depressive episode #raw dogging my mental health #can winter please be over

[itswrenly]

took me until today to remember there’s an ice rink 15 minutes from my house and seeing as I’ve been stuck in fucking health class instead of PE for the last three months in BACK ON THE GRIND BABYYYYY

#I AM A DOG WHO REQUIRES MENTAL STIMULATION PLEASE #IF YOU FUCKING MAKE ME READ ONE FOR NUTRITION LABEL #I WILL COMMIT A MURDER #LET ME RUNNNNNNNN #DUDDDDEE I WANNA GO BACK TO HOCKEY AND FRISBEE #FUCKING MAKE ME PLAY SOCCERRRRR #IM DYING INSIDEEEEE #MENTAL HEALTH IN BIN LET ME MOVEEEE #WHY DO WE SPEND THE WINTER IN HEALTH #THIS SHIT IS NOT COMBATTING MY SEASONAL DEPRESSION #LET ME OOOOOUUUUUUTTTTTTT #anyway sleepy time #Gnight y’all #wrenlyrambles #itswrenly

[ataleoftwopitties]

5 Tips to Keep Your Dog Warm in the Winter

Invest in doggy outerwear - sweaters, hoodies, jackets, vests, even shoes! There's a whole market of pet clothing nowadays. One of our favorite brands of K9 outerwear is Canada Pooch

It's important to note that not every dog's coat may be enough to keep them warm in the winter - especially puppies, small or hairless breeds, elderly dogs, or those with health issues. Just like with people, pets' cold tolerance can vary based on their coat, body fat stores, activity level, and health. Pets with heart disease, kidney disease, or metabolic diseases like diabetes and Cushing's might also have a harder time regulating their body temperatures. 

Protect your dog's paws when it's snowing. Boots can help minimize contact with the ground and prevent snow and ice from getting lodged between their toes and causing frostbite. Like chapped lips, cracked paws can be annoying and painful, and built up snow and ice can irritate their sensitive skin between their toes.

It might feel awkward at first for some dogs, so try to use positive reinforcement as they try to adjust to wearing their boots. Offer high-reward treats so they can learn to associate good things with their boots - when the boots are on, good things are going to happen! :)

If boots still don't feel right for your dog, you can try applying paw balm or petroleum jelly-based products like Musher's Secret to keep your dog's paws safe and moisturized.

Just always be sure to wipe down and clean your dog's paws thoroughly with with a warm cloth when they come back inside. Sometimes salt and anti-freeze are put on sidewalks and driveways, which can cause chemical burns on your pet's paw pads or gastrointestinal issues if they try to lick it off.

Limit their time outdoors. Winter walks aren't always so magical. Know your dog's limits and shorten their walks if needed. If you can, reserve walks for the warmest parts of the day.

Signs to tell if your dog is too cold: - Shaking, shivering, or trembling - Hunched posture with tail-tucking - Slowing down or reluctant to walk/move - Lifting their paws off the ground - Whining or barking - Ears and nose feel very cold to the touch Even if you decide to leave your dog in the car while you run an errand, it can still be dangerous if they are left for too long without any heat support when its below 30 degrees F outside. While cars can trap blazing temperatures in the summer and open risk for heatstroke, they can also trap freezing temperatures in the winter and open risk for hypothermia. Perhaps try to sit in your car without a jacket and see how long you can bare waiting in there without the heater on.

Provide choices! Give your dog more options for comfortable sleeping places with varying levels of bedding and blankets, in case they need to change their location for more or less warmth.

Set up cozy, wet-proof areas outdoors with heating lamps and wind barriers. Make sure kennels and igloos/houses are well-insulated and have enough space for them to walk in, turn around, and comfortably lay in.

Unless you have a healthy conditioned sled dog, I would not recommend letting them spend the night outdoors in the snow, without proper shelter and heat support. Watch how cold it can get in a simple dog house:

Serve warm food and water. At minimum, aim to make sure whatever they consume is at room temperature - but preferably just above their body temperature (101-103 F) when it's especially cold. Warming their food will also bring out their aroma and make it more enticing for them to eat. If feeding kibble/dry or dehydrated, you can mix in some warm bone broth. If it's canned/wet food, avoid microwaving for too long, as this can make the food too hot and potentially deplete its nutrients. Instead, try warming up your dog's wet food with this technique:

As for home-cooked/fresh food, the Balance It Canine Plus supplement not only makes your dog's complete and balanced, but is actually formulated to withstand reheating/microwaving. Our personal favorite! Below is a tutorial on how to utilize the Balance It system:

When selecting ingredients for your dog's food in the winter, consider including "warming" foods according to TCVM food energetics. Examples of these would be meats like lamb, goat, or venison, and vegetables and starches like sweet potatoes and oats. Traditional Chinese medicine teaches that hot/warm food nourishes the body by bringing heat which improves circulation. To support this theory, some studies have found that food associated with heat consists of compounds that are on average lower in molecular weight, yet higher in protein and fat - which contribute to energy production, and magnesium and potassium - which contribute to blood pressure and nerve function.(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154320300247) Here is a list of some hot/warm commercial pet food and treats: - SideBySide Pet "Warming" - Dr. Judy Morgan's Fire Element Diet - Pet Tao "Blaze" Freeze Dried Raw Formula - JustFoodForDogs Venison & Squash Recipe - JustFoodForDogs Lamb & Rice Recipe

For more information on food energetics, watch this video:

#stay warm #pet products #pet food #canine health #canine nutrition #dog tips #winter #cold weather

[timeisacephalopod]

One time I read an article (I believe on buzzfeed) about this woman who was playing with her dogs in her front yard when they, apparently out of nowhere, straight up ripped her arms off and I will NEVER forget how almost every comment on that article was from dog people claiming she abused the dogs with no evidence of that whatsoever because they could not imagine a dog doing a Bad Thing. And like one of the dogs was a boxer, which is a breed I'm very familiar with- they obviously don't rip owners arms off with their other breed of dog friends normally. But I also think it's absurd to claim someone abused those animals when sometimes dogs do fucked up shit. Doesn't make em evil or bad, sometimes dogs snap like people snap and that's fine no need to moralize which dogs are Bad Dogs but there's also no need to claim someone who went through a horrific tragedy and was victimized by their pets of all things was abusive to said pets with no proof.

Another person in the comments pointed out how weird and cult like everyone else was acting and as a cat person who has been told a number of times how awful and horrible my pets are I gotta agree lmao. Crazy what dog people will do to defend the obviously indefensible rather than being like "damn that's fucked up has anyone done a check on those dogs to see if maybe they've got a health issue that caused them to lash out like that" or otherwise act normal instead of jumping straight to victim blaming someone with no fuckin arms. Like damn dog people will call cats evil for eating you after you die (dogs do that too by the way, do you expect them to STARVE to death because you think your corpse matters more than your pets life? Wtf. Plus not all cats OR dogs will eat you post death so ??? Not to mention if I stick YOU in a room with nothing but dead grandma you will eat her too if I leave you there long enough why vilainize cats for *checks notes* eating food when starving) but then defend dogs doing literally the most fucked up shit I've ever read a pet doing. Of course the dogs were not evil or bad, sometimes shit happens and that says nothing about dogs as a whole but I wish cats got even REMOTELY the same respect from those same people. If you can acknowledge a couple dogs ripping their owners arms off probably doesn't make those dogs in particular evil there's no reason to treat all cats like they're evil incarnate.

#winters ramblings #i was like cool good to know if i had the misfortune of being maimed by my pet everyone will accuse me of abusing them #like damn dogs do fucked up shit sometimes thats fine. it doesnt NEED to say anything about the species 'dog' #hell id argue if you were able to find a health issue in the attacking dog rehabilitation MIGHT be possible #but if a PERSON did this do you think there would be a defense?? hell if a CAT did it which is not possible but if a CAT did do that #cats as a whole would once again be labeled psychopaths by EVERYONE. just be normal!!! the dogs did a fucked upuo thing #i assume they had a condition because i DO know boxers and that is SUPER FUCKING WEIRD of them to do #i cant remember what breed the other dog was butthere was NO proof of abuse AT ALL so blaming this woman for her ARMS being RIPPED OFF #seemed like one of the most fucked up ignorant to this persons deep and disturbing trauma way to react to an obvious tragedy #imagine having that happen to you and everyone and their dog (ha) accuses you of animal abuse??!? #so fucked up that people did that and it was like NINETY NINE PERCENT of the comments minus the ONE #that was like 'hey you guys are being EXTREMELY fucked up right now you know that right??' #and then the thread of cat people beneath that was like 'YEAH THIS IS WEORD OF DOG PEOPLE TO DO THEY ALL HATE MY CATS BUT EXCUSE THIS????' #anyway just goes to show dog people are the most annoying entitled people on the planet. dogs are lovely the people who love them are not

[puppyexpressions]

Dogs and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Can dogs get seasonal affective disorder (SAD)?

It’s unclear as to whether or not dogs suffer with SAD. This condition is hard to diagnose in humans and proves even more difficult when looking at our dogs.

Many owners have reported that their dogs sleep more and can sometimes lose their appetite during the winter, however, this is more likely to be linked with our change in routine over the cold, winter months rather than that of SAD.

What could be causing my dog to act differently during the winter?

People are affected by the lack of sunlight during the winter months and, with dogs also being mammals, it is possible, though not scientifically proven, that dogs may also adjust their habits and behaviors during this season. We often feel the need to hunker down and rest to keep warm and conserve energy and, potentially, our dogs could be similarly affected. Do bear in mind, though, that dogs are intuitive animals and, if you show signs of low mood, this may have an impact on how they feel, too.

Other factors that could be causing your dog to act differently during the winter include:

Spending less time outside – it's likely that you're not out and about walking with your dog as much in winter, which may affect you dog's mood as well as yours. While some dogs shy away from rain and cold more than others, getting out provides mental stimulation for your dog and can lift the spirits of both you and your pooch.

A change of routine – for many families, winter is a time when normal routines are disrupted due to the festive period. Often, dogs become used to having lots of people around over Christmas and plenty of fuss, so when January comes around and they’re left alone again, it can be a strange adjustment and could lead them to display signs of separation anxiety.

A need for more sleep – some dogs could just see the new year as a chance to rest up and recoup after all the excitement of the festivities, sleeping more in the winter as a result.

How to make your dog’s winter better

During the winter months, it’s unclear whether the weather directly affects your dog’s mood. However, you can take steps to make your furry friend’s winter more comfortable.

Get outside

Exercise is a proven antidote to low mood and depression in humans, and the same can apply to your dog – so, getting out on walks together has the potential to give you both a boost. Make sure you take as much advantage as possible of those sunny winter days, but don’t let grey periods put you off. Wrap up warm and, if your dog suffers from the cold, get a dog coat to keep them nice and toasty. Just be careful on slippery surfaces and in low light, and never leave your dog outside unattended in bitter conditions, as they could develop frostbite or hypothermia.

Games and enrichment

When extreme weather conditions stop your walking routine altogether, there are plenty of indoor games and enrichment activities that you can do with your dog to prevent boredom. Playing a game of tug of war, fetch and hide and seek, or using food puzzles, can all help to keep your dog mentally stimulated. You can also use your time indoors to teach them a new trick or work on existing training.`

Provide them with warmth

Just like us, dogs love a cozy, warm corner to snuggle up in. Make sure their bed is in a warm spot away from any drafts, with plenty of thick bedding or blankets – and don't forget to curl up with them for a cuddle when they need a fuss!

#Seasonal Affective Disorder #dog depression #winter blues #dogs with SAD #dog health #winter dogs #dogs in winter #depression #dogs and seasonal depression

[sammythesheltie]

Update to Sammys health:

We got his blood tests back and they are good again, like super good.

And he is acting fully normal again - full of joy and power.

Such a relief.

#dogblr #dogs #puppies #photography #sheltie #shetland sheepdog #dog health #december #december 2022 #winter #sammy

[nicistrying]

Mon 12th Dec:

Lovely snowy walk with Maggie first thing 😍 I really thought she'd be into playing snowballs though 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️

Warmed up with a cup of tea at home and then braved the shopping centre to try to get the last few Christmas presents. I did pretty well I think, just booze to buy for a few people and biscuits to make now.

Went back out for our afternoon walk and Maggie bolted off after a deer with her lead still attached to her, and I spent what felt like an eternity looking for her in the bushes as it was getting dark. She did keep yelping to tell me where she was though, poor girl 😭 thankfully she wasn't hurt, I found her sitting in a little clearing waiting for me with her lead all tangled up in a tree. After this traumatic ordeal, I bakeda test batch of shortbread which didn't turn out so well, I didn't like the recipe so will definitely need to tweak it as these are a bit dry and not quite sweet enough imo.

All this combined to make a 30k step day when I wasn't even at work which I found insane! 2 dog walks, a few hours shopping and a batch of biscuits is all it took 😬

#fitblr #health blog #fitness blog #personal #Maggie #chasey dog probs #walk #snow #winter #Christmas prep #trying anyway #fitbit

[ournextdoorneighbor]

.

#yknow what would help me? i think a dog #ive been thinking abt it a lot and i feel like im a ready now to adopt another one. emotionally. but i dont think my family is. #a dog would be lovley tho im wfh anyways so i can take it for walks. good for my mental health too #altho maybe winter isnt the best time

[3xpr3ssoshot]

A little taste of hope tonight. Let us starve upon it, trying to replemish the deep hole of lost things.

#self love #winter #expressoqueen #pagan #healing #mental health #dog mom #self improvement #quotes #;

[shae-la-hyene]

Seeing everybody be sick and talk about it like it's normal and mundane and unavoidable when covid safety measures clearly showed us that flus and colds and other contagious sicknesses are definitely easily avoidable, but people would rather be debilitated for a week than put a mask in winter, is making my soul leave my body.

#it's not even covid #people get the flu and they film themselves eating soup like it's a normal thing to be bedridden for a week #like yeah I am sick anyway here is another tiktok because if I stop them by taking a sick leave the algorythm will punish me #and I can't afford it #this is so wild #they don't even care about isolating/masking at all anymore and will gladly give the sickness to everybody and their dog #just to avoid a slight inconvenience #those people learned nothing from covid #they don't care at all about disabled people and how their entitlement is hurting and killing them #i want to grab them by the shoulders and shake them hard screaming #in an age that has so many health safety measure it is NOT normal to be sick every winter !