Shiver me Timbers!

It's getting cold out here!

     Hey it's Teddy again!

     It is sooooooooo cold out today. The Weather Channel says that it is 21 but it FEELS like 10! And it's day light outside! How cold will it be tonight? Brrrrrrrr!

     Don't get me wrong. I LOVE playing in the snow. It is a ton of fun. But when my little paws are cold, I get to scratching at the door to come inside! There's nothing better than snuggling up with my humans and taking a long winter's nap. 

     Winter can be a dangerous time for animals. We will do anything to keep warm and there are little dangers that our humans should be aware of. But with just a little knowledge, humans can keep us fur babies perfectly happy and safe all season long.

     For instance, cats love to curl up in car engines. It's super toasty there and the body of the vehicle blocks the wind. We have a tuxedo kitty living in our winter habitat, so my humans make sure they tap on the car before they start it up just to make sure we don't have an visitors. There are a lot of feral cats in our neighborhood and old family pets that renters left behind, so my Mama does what she can to keep these kitties comfy in the cold. You click here to read more about caring for feral or stray cats in the winter.

     Another example is when I get salt all over my paws after a walk. It might not seem like a big deal but licking the salt off one's paws can actually give you a really bad stomach ache. Ice and ice melts can also cause the pads of our feet to crack and chafe. A simple solution is to just wipe your pets feet off when you come in the front door. Nothing extravagant, just a damp wash cloth to give our paws a quick wiping.

      Also,  if you light a fire or a space heater to keep your house warm, remember that pets love warmth. Keep an eye out for your pet and make sure that they are not to close to your fire or heater. A spark from a flame could catch your pet's fur on fire or a pad touching a heated surface could burn. Also, we tend to get excited and knock things over on accident. And no one wants their home accidentally burned down! (And especially not in the cold!)

      On that same note, make sure that you have carbon monoxide detector. Pets are even more susceptible to carbon monoxide than their owners because we tend to spend even more time in the house than you guys do. 

See?

      A lot of winter pet care is just using your common sense. Bigger breeds can stay out longer. Of course a Husky is going to like the snow more than a Chihuahua. Duh. One is from Russia, the other Mexico. Little dogs like me and cats have to wade through the snow and it's just not that fun after a while. Bigger dogs can plow through and keep going. The more fur we have, the warmer we stay. And if you have a small dog with little fur, please feel free to stick one of those stupid sweaters on them. My Mama makes me wear them. 

     If you keep a bowl of water outside for your pet, make sure it's not frozen. Frozen water is just silly. You can't drink it. And pets really need to stay hydrated when the humidity is down outside. Fresh water is always a good answer!

      Keep an eye on your pet for frostbite and hypothermia in the winter. Frostbite is particularly tricky because it's when all the blood rushes away from your tail and your paws and your ears. The tissue damage might not show right away. Hypothermia is easier to notice because you can see changes in your pet right away. Petsitter has a great article on treatment for frostbite and hypothermia.

      Winter can be a blast as long as the right precautions are taken. I know that I'm looking forward to building a snowman and getting in to snow ball fights. I'm also looking forward to the heat vent near my Mama's bed and extra food for winter weight. Make sure to stay warm this winter. And keep your fur friends warm and safe too! Bark!

   

Halloween...

Coco and I share a pumpkin straight from the garden. Mama was not happy when she found this.

 Halloween is my mama's most favorite holiday of all.

 I don't want to tell her, but I can't stand it. It's super creepy. I remember last year. The doorbell rang for hours. I wasn't allowed outside after dark. These creepy, small creatures walked by all night long and the later it got, the louder everything got. Honestly, I thought it was a horrible night. I went and curled up in bed with my Grammy. It was warm and quiet there.

  From what I understand, Halloween is a great time for humans. They get to go to parties and dance and eat candy. But most people don't understand how spooky Halloween really is for their pets. We don't like strangers knocking on our doors. We don't like loud noises. And we can't eat chocolate. Where's the fun it for a dog?

   I much prefer Thanksgiving, where I get to eat a ton of stuff.

   I have a few tips I'd like to share with my human friends to help them help their pets have a Happy and Safe Halloween.
  #1. Keep your pets inside after dark.
   Like I said earlier, Halloween is creepy. And a lot of creeps come out on this night. These creeps like to steal animals. Or scare them. Or abuse them. So the best thing to do is keep your fur baby in your house, preferably somewhere quiet. Now, I know that I'm going to have to go pee at some point during the night and I'm sure your dog will too. But please make sure that you take your best friend out on a leash and away from strangers.
  #2. Use a safe and comfortable costume for your pet.
  If you're like my Mama, she insists on dressing us up in these ridiculous outfits. But at least she makes sure that it's not too tight and that I can't choke in it. And when I get too tired and irritated by being dressed up, she takes that stuff off of me. So please remember, we already have a big furry outfit on. It's called our coat. And we really don't like human clothes. Please keep it simple.
  #3. Make sure all the candy and wrappers and treats are kept out our reach.
  We love to chew and eat and play with everything. The things are considered treats for children could kill a fur child. Chocolate is delicious but dangerous and candy wrappers can choke us. If you really want to treat us, here is a link to some delicious peanut butter and pumpkin treats you can make! Peanut Butter and Pumpkin Treats
  #4. Watch out for your Jack O Lanterns.
  Especially around those sneaky, slinky cats. If you have a candle in your pumpkin, they could knock it over and catch the whole house on fire. or stick a paw or a tail in and get burned. You know how curious cats are..... and speaking of cats....
  #5. Keep a close eye on your black cats.
  Dogs too but people who are really mean and sadistic (I heard my Daddy say that word) like to harm black pets on Halloween in rituals or just out of pure meanness. White cats are vulnerable too. And white dogs. Really all animals. If you open your door for a trick or treater, make sure your pet doesn't dart out. And make sure they have the proper identification on them, just in case something happens.
  #6. ENJOY YOURSELF!
  Halloween can be very scary, but it can also be very fun. Make your pet some treats, walk them around the neighborhood in their costume while it's still daylight, take lots of pics, and snuggle down and watch "Hocus Pocus" at night. I know that's what me and my family plan to do! Hope you all have a very safe and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!

Me, My Grammy, and My cousins, Halloween 2012